Costs of stem cell transplantation | Donation of stem cells

Costs of stem cell transplantation

The costs for a typing are about 40 EUR, which are financed by the DKMS through donations. Every potential donor can take over the typing financially by himself and make this a tax deductible donation. The complete stem cell collection including transplantation is very expensive.

Thus, about 100,000 EUR must be reckoned with. The costs are covered by health insurance.If a stem cell donor is found, the employer must release him/her from the obligation to donate stem cells. Each stem cell donor will be compensated for this absence from work as long as he is unfit for work (hospitalization).

However, no further funds are paid for the patient. The donation is therefore free of charge. After about two days, the patient is discharged from the hospital after a bone marrow puncture. With complaints it can become necessary that he must remain still some days at home and is written ill. The costs are then covered by the health insurance company.

Pain during stem cell transplantation

In medicinal stem cell procurement, a drug is administered to the donor for about 5 days. Side effects include bone pain, which may occur over the period of time the stem cells are taken and shortly afterwards, and may spread throughout the body. In bone marrow puncture, a kind of drill is used to puncture the iliac crest and harvest bone marrow.

This procedure can also be performed under general anesthesia if necessary. After the procedure, the patient can be quickly mobilized again. However, bone pain is more frequent in the area of the bone marrow puncture.

The pain may occur during stress or at rest, but should disappear within a week after the procedure. Longer lasting pain should be clarified by a physician.