What does an allogenic bone marrow transplant entail?

An allogenic bone marrow transplant involves the use of stem cells or bone marrow derived from a donor, which is typically not the patient themselves but rather another individual who is genetically compatible. The best match is often a sibling, as they have a higher likelihood of sharing the same human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), which are critical for reducing the risk of transplant rejection and complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

In this procedure, the recipient undergoes conditioning treatment, usually involving chemotherapy and/or radiation, to prepare their body for the new stem cells. Afterward, the matched donor's stem cells are infused into the recipient's bloodstream, allowing the new cells to migrate to the bone marrow and begin producing healthy blood cells.

The other options reflect aspects of different transplant types or procedures. For example, using cells from the patient themselves relates to an autologous transplant, while receiving cells from an identical twin leans towards a syngeneic transplant. However, in the context of an allogenic bone marrow transplant, utilizing stem cells from a donor, such as a sibling or a matched individual, is the correct definition.