Cryogenic preservation of stem cells - opinions/advice?

[Willem Fick]

Hi folks,

My firstborn is due mid June . One of the salespitches being thown at us right now is for the cryogenic preservation of the baby's umbilical cord and blood, because (they say) this is a great insurance policy against all sorts of dreaded diseases that the boy may suffer from in later life.

Is this worthwile, or is it just clever marketing playing on my concience, trying to get me to part with a (not small) amount of money!

Opinions please!

[sketchers356]

I think the money in a savings bond would help the baby exponentially more in all likelihood.

[flatbutt]

My son is also considering this. So far I know of no reason to embrace the expense without the research to support the application.

[arcsine]

One example of application is in the case of the need for a bone marrow transplant. Frozen cord blood can be used to reinstitute a white blood cell population in the patient without need for finding a compatible donor.

[Tobra]

Gary, while that is true, you can get cord blood from someone else. They are trying to sell you a bill of goods. Run, don't walk away from whoever is suggesting this to you.

[Nathans_Dad]

Cord blood freezing is a crock, IMO. Very few (if any) current therapies use embryonic stem cells and if any were to be developed you could use cells from donors. None of my 4 kids had their cord blood saved.

[gtc]

I say make it into a nice soup.

[arcsine]

You guys are right. The guy I was talking to about this was E Donnall Thomas. He probably does not know jack about something like this. Good to know that I can come here where I can get all the best advice and information.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Gary, while that is true, you can get cord blood from someone else. They are trying to sell you a bill of goods. Run, don't walk away from whoever is suggesting this to you.

This. I'm an obstetrician and I deal with this every day. Stem cell medicine has an amazing future but I'm not convinced that you'll ever need your own stem cells. Stem's from a healthy donor may be just as effective.

And the size of the potential donor pool is virtually limitless as we can collect cord blood with every delivery and fill up the public cord blood banks in very short order.

I have three kids and didn't store the cord blood for any of them.

[jyl]

But save the placenta as you're supposed to plant a tree over it or something.