Immunodeficiencies 

Immunodeficiencies affect your body’s ability to fight infections and diseases. Some immunodeficiencies are present at birth (primary immunodeficiency), while others develop later in life (secondary immunodeficiency).

At Henry Ford Health, our immunologists care for people with these conditions every day. We understand how immunodeficiencies impact your health and well-being and offer leading-edge therapies to help you live your healthiest life.

Why choose Henry Ford Health for immunodeficiency treatment?

Our immunologists care for babies, children and adults with any type of immune system condition. Highlights of our care include:

• Advanced lab tests: Diagnosing an immunodeficiency may require less common blood or genetic tests. Our doctors have the expertise to select the appropriate tests and send them to a specialized lab to get detailed results.
• Stem cell transplants: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), commonly called a bone marrow transplant, is a potential cure for certain types of immunodeficiencies. Our immunologistspartner leading immunology centers around the country as well as with our Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, which was one of the first in Michigan to offer these innovative treatments.
• Customized care: Immunodeficiencies are complex, and even the same condition can affect two people differently. Our specialists take a personalized approach to your treatment, offering options that address your specific medical needs and preferences.

How we diagnose immunodeficiencies

Immunodeficiencies are diagnosed through specialized blood and genetic tests. Our dedicated team provides the full range of tests so you receive clear and comprehensive results.

Children with primary immunodeficiency (PID) often receive a diagnosis shortly after birth due to current state-mandated testing. However, thanks to improvements in medical technology and better understanding of these conditions, some PIDs can now be diagnosed in older children and even adults.

Primary immunodeficiency treatments we provide

PIDs are immunodeficiencies that are present at birth. Usually, they occur when part of the immune system is missing or doesn’t function properly. Examples of primary immunodeficiencies we treat include:

• B-cell deficiencies, such as agammaglobulinemia, common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and selective IgA deficiency
• T-cell deficiencies, such as DiGeorge syndrome and NEMO deficiency
• Combined (B cell and T cell) immunodeficiencies, including severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS)
• Complement deficiencies, including C2, C3 and C5-C9 deficiencies
• Phagocyte deficiencies, including chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
• Unclassified primary immunodeficiencies, such as autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

We offer the latest therapies for all types of PIDs, including:

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)

HSCT uses bone marrow from a donor to help your body create a new immune system. This treatment may have the ability to cure some types of severe PIDs, including SCID, WAS and CGD. If this treatment is an option for you, we connect you with specialists at our Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy

If you have an antibody deficiency, this treatment can give you specific antibodies your body is missing to help you fight infections. We provide this treatment using:

• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which we give through an IV infusion at our infusion centers
• Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG), which you administer under your skin at home using a tiny needle

Umbilical cord blood transplant

A cord blood transplant uses blood from a newborn’s umbilical cord, which contains stem cells. You may get umbilical stem cells from a donor or a cord blood bank. Stem cells can make new cells and repair unhealthy cells in your body. Umbilical stem cells can treat some types of SCID in children.

Secondary immunodeficiency treatments we provide

Secondary immunodeficiency (SID) occurs when your immune system becomes weakened as a result of another health condition, an infection or medical treatment. Our specialists offer the full range of therapies for these conditions, including:

Immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy

Certain medical conditions, such as HIV and nephrotic syndrome (where your kidneys release too much protein), as well as medications like chemotherapy, can cause antibody deficiencies. We offer the latest IVIG and SCIG therapies to help support your immune system if you have this type of deficiency.

Medications

Medications can play a crucial role in treating secondary immunodeficiencies. We may use antibiotics or antiparasitic medications to treat infections that occur as a result of an immune system condition.

Treating immunodeficiencies often requires suppressing an overactive part of the immune system. But sometimes, suppressing the immune system can lead to an infection. Our immunologists work with your medical team to prescribe and adjust medications, monitor how they're working and check for side effects.