The most common treatment for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) is to correct or replace the baby’s immune system through transplantation of blood-forming cells from a healthy donor. Cells in the bone marrow called blood-forming stem cells grow into all the types of blood cells, including lymphocytes (B and T cells). These cells are obtained from a healthy, tissue matched, person and given to the baby through a vein.
The new cells produce functioning lymphocytes that correct the SCID defect. This is called a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
The ideal donor for an infant with SCID is a perfectly matched sibling. When a perfect match is not available, it is also possible to achieve excellent results using a half matched related donor, such as a parent. A matched bone marrow or matched cord blood transplantation from an unrelated donor is another successful way to treat SCID.
In some instances, depending on the altered gene that caused SCID in your baby, other treatments are possible and immunology specialists will discuss these with you.
All of these treatment options need to be done in a specialized medical center where there are doctors called pediatric immunologists who are experienced with SCID.
There is a bone marrow transplant program being developed at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research in Qatar.
