THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609190345
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
SOURCE: BY DEBRA GORDON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 49 lines
There's a national shortage of African-American and other minority bone-marrow donors, which means minorities with life-threatening diseases wait longer for a transplant and may not be able to get one, health officials say.
Right now, that shortage doesn't affect transplants for sickle cell disease, because only exact matches from siblings can be used, said Andrea Carter, public relations specialist for the National Marrow Donor Program, based in Minneapolis. But in the future, Carter said, marrow from nonrelated donors will probably be used.
However, the shortage does affect transplants for other illnesses, like leukemia and other types of cancer. The shortage of black donors is especially critical since tissue transplants are most successful when matched by tissue as well as blood type.
Currently, only 1.3 percent of all bone-marrow donors are black. Blacks have only a 44 percent chance of finding a nonrelated match, Carter said, compared to the 76 percent chance whites have.
``One thing you hear so much about in the African-American community when you talk about organ and tissue donation is people say that if they're going to help someone black, they would be willing to do it,'' said Drew Ross, who directs the bone-marrow program for Virginia Blood Service in Richmond. ``Well, here is an instance where we're saying it is going to help someone black.''
Ross lists four main reasons why African Americans hesitate to donate bone marrow:
Lack of awareness.
Religious beliefs that prevent organ donations.
Distrust of the predominantly white medical profession.
The poor health of some African Americans, which eliminates them as donors.
Three years ago, the national bone-marrow organization began a campaign targeted at blacks, which has resulted in 157,000 blacks joining the registry. More are needed, Carter said.
To become a donor, you must be between 18 and 60 and in good health.
Joining the registry requires a simple blood test, Carter said. Each evening a search is run for patients who need a transplant.
If you are a potential match, you will be contacted for additional blood testing, she said.
All charges are paid by the transplant recipient.
Free blood tests are available for minorities. For information about becoming a donor, call the National Marrow Donor program at 1-800-627-7692.
KEYWORDS: SICKLE CELL ANEMIA BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS by CNB