Dow Organ Support Society — Expanding Deceased Organ Transplantation for Bone Marrow at NISOTT

The Dow Organ Support Society (DOSS), under the National Institute of Solid Organ & Tissue Transplantation (NISOTT)—a branch of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS)—has been dedicated to saving lives through successful living donor transplant programs for kidney, liver, and bone marrow transplantation.

Now, we aim to expand into deceased organ transplantation, offering new hope to patients in need of bone marrow transplants who don’t have access to a living donor.

Causes of Bone Marrow Failure and the Need for Transplantation

Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue inside bones that produces blood cells. When bone marrow stops functioning properly, a transplant becomes necessary. In Pakistan, the most common causes include:

Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers – Abnormal white blood cell growth can overwhelm healthy cells.
Aplastic Anemia – The bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.
Thalassemia Major – An inherited blood disorder requiring lifelong transfusions and often a bone marrow transplant.
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) – A rare genetic disorder where infants are born without a functioning immune system.
Sickle Cell Disease – Causes abnormal red blood cells that can damage organs and require a transplant.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) – A group of disorders where bone marrow doesn’t produce healthy blood cells.
Lymphomas – Cancers of the lymphatic system affecting bone marrow function.
Without a transplant, patients face severe complications such as infections, anemia, organ damage, and a significantly reduced lifespan.

Types of Bone Marrow Transplants

Autologous Transplant (Self-Donation)

The patient’s healthy stem cells are collected, stored, and reinfused after treatment.

Often used in cancers like lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Allogeneic Transplant (Donor Donation)

Stem cells are donated by another person, usually a sibling or close relative, though unrelated donors can also be used.

Requires close genetic matching to reduce the risk of rejection.

Deceased Donor Bone Marrow Transplant (New Initiative)

Stem cells are donated by someone who has passed away and had consented to organ donation.

Expands the donor pool, giving more patients access to lifesaving treatment.

Requires specialized infrastructure and public awareness to be successfully implemented.

Living Donor Transplant

Success depends on finding a close genetic match.
1-year survival rate: ~70–90% (varies by condition and patient health). Detailed is available here.

Deceased Donor Transplant

Slightly lower survival rates due to more complex matching.
1-year survival rate: ~60–80%.
With experienced medical teams like those at NISOTT, survival rates are steadily improving and are now comparable to global standards. For further details check out this article.

Importance of Bone Marrow Transplantation

Saves Lives – Offers a cure for blood cancers and genetic disorders that would otherwise be fatal.
Expands Access Through Deceased Donation – Increases donor availability for patients who don’t have compatible living donors.
Restores Normal Blood Production – Replaces damaged or diseased bone marrow, restoring the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells.
Reduces the Organ Shortage – Promoting deceased bone marrow donation helps reduce long waiting lists.
Improves Quality of Life – Gives patients the chance to live longer, healthier lives, free from constant blood transfusions and hospital visits.

FAQs

Patients with blood cancers, severe immune disorders, and bone marrow failure require transplantation.

Bone marrow stem cells are retrieved from the donor shortly after death and preserved for transplantation.

Matching is based on Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) markers found in white blood cells. Closer matches reduce the risk of rejection.

Many scholars and religious bodies support bone marrow donation as a form of saving lives, aligning with the principle of helping humanity.

Contact the Dow Organ Support Society (DOSS) to pledge your bone marrow for donation and help save lives.

Success depends on the underlying disease and donor match. In Pakistan, under skilled teams like NISOTT, outcomes are improving with every case.