Successful Bone-Marrow Transplantation in a Lymphopenic Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome

A 12-year-old boy with lymphopenic immunologic deficiency syndrome (common variable type) was treated with an infusion of bone-marrow cells from a 10-year-old HL-A identical brother. Despite the HL-A identity and a negative mixed lymphocyte culture, a severe graft-versus-host reaction developed from which he recovered, except for persisting hepatitis. The transplant resulted in red-cell chimerism and in an immunologic reconstitution that was almost complete but of an unusual pattern. IgM and IgG concentration increased and exceeded those of normal adults.