Reconstitution of Cellular Immune Function in a Child with Thymic Aplasia by Foetal Thymus Grafting

Abstract

Summary: A two-year-old, male non-identical twin with megacolon, hypochondroplasia of bone and absence of a thymus-dependent lymphoid population is described. No parathyroid dysfunction was detected and humoral immune function was intact, although only an IgM response was elicited by a thymus dependent antigen. Repeated grafting of unmatched thymus tissue from a human foetus of 12–16 weeks gestation has resulted in significant immunological re-constitution and clinical improvement.