Innovative Treatment Options for Immune Deficiency Disorders

When treating patients with immune deficiency disorders, the main goal of our team at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center is to help regain and improve control and quality of life. We do this by decreasing the number of and severity of diseases and infections experienced with proactive treatments such as immunotherapy, gene therapy or stem cell transplant.

Treatment plans will be dependent on a patient’s individual symptoms as well as their age, the type of immune deficiency disorder they are facing and their tolerance for certain medications, therapies and procedures.

Medications such as antibiotics and antifungals are common treatments for immune deficiency disorders. Replacement therapy with gamma globulins, which are antibodies from the blood of healthy individuals, may be an option for patients who are unable to produce adequate amounts of antibodies.

Stem Cell Transplant Improves Blood Cell Production

Through our research and clinical trials at University Hospitals, our team has made significant progress in aspects of gene therapy and cell manipulation for improved stem cell transplant success rates. Advanced treatments for certain immune deficiency disorders and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), many through ongoing clinical trials, may include:

• Gene therapy: As an alternative therapy when acceptable stem cell donors are not available, gene therapy inserts a normal copy of a patient’s gene to offset the gene defects that affect blood cells.
• Thymus transplantation: When the thymus, a lymphoid organ that produces cells for the immune system, is not present or not functioning, thymus or thymic transplantation may result in a positive effect for patients with immune deficiency disorders.
• Hematopoietic cell transplantation: As a primary treatment option for severe immune deficiency disorders, our team provides the replacement of blood forming cells, called hematopoietic stem cells, to generate new red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Lifestyle Recommendations for Improved Health

Our team works with our immune deficiency disorder patients to understand how even small lifestyle changes can make a big impact on quality of life. We explain how a healthy lifestyle that consists of a nutritious diet, regular exercise and plenty of rest can assist with the treatment of immune deficiency disorders.

Collaborative & Multidisciplinary Approach to Care

Our collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to care, state-of-the-art technology, clinical trials and innovative treatments ensure that patients with immune deficiency disorders receive the highest quality of care. In addition to clinical excellence for your specific clinical needs, we provide a compassionate and supportive environment for healing. Through our integrative oncology services, we provide a holistic approach to health and well-being.