expanded access protocol thymus transplantation

Conditions: Poor Thymic Function; Immunodeficiency; Athymia; Immunoreconstitution; Thymus Transplantation; Low T Cell Numbers

Summary: the primary purpose is to provide access for patients who have immunodeficiency or severe autoimmune disease related to poor thymic function to cultured thymus tissue for implantation. with no thymus function, bone marrow stem cells do not develop into educated t cells, which fight infection. eligible participants receive cultured thymus tissue for implantation and may undergo biopsy. immune suppression may be given depending on the immune status and clinical condition of the participant. immune function testing is continued for one year post-implantation.

the patients enrolled have a high likelihood of death if they do not receive culture thymus tissue because of lack of thymus function. as there are many types of patients who may be enrolled, study results will not have statistical significance. the study objective is to make cultured thymus tissue available for implantation on an expanded access basis. data will be collected on survival, naïve t cell development, t cell chimerism, and implant related toxicities, as well as any unexpected study-related serious adverse events. eligible subjects receive cultured thymus tissue and may undergo allograft biopsy. immune suppression may be given depending on the subject's immune status and clinical condition. protocol specified studies continue until approximately one year post-implantation. study participation lasts approximately two years.

Eligibility criteria:
cultured thymus tissue inclusion criteria for implantation: * an immunodeficiency or severe autoimmunity for which development of naïve t cells would be expected to lead to lead to clinical improvement. * written consent (or consent of parent/legal guardian as applicable), review of medical testing, laboratory studies, and physical examinations are used to determine whether the patient is clinically stable and will potentially benefit from receiving cultured thymus tissue. each participant is reviewed with the data safety and monitoring board (dsmb). cultured thymus tissue exclusion criteria for implantation: * unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease * uncontrolled infections. "uncontrolled" is defined as requiring a ventilator, dialysis, or vasopressor support or anticipated as requiring such support within 6 months. * pregnancy * for females of child-bearing potential, a serum pregnancy test is done after consent, at the same time another blood draw is done if possible. * females of child-bearing potential must agree to contraceptive measures as indicated in the consent form. * a second serum pregnancy test is done within 48 hours prior to administration of study interventions involving fda pregnancy class d drugs, chemotherapy drugs, or other drugs or interventions known to pose risks to a potential fetus. * hiv positive * history of malignancy * cmv infection * for subjects receiving immunosuppression as part of the implantation protocol, cmv infection as documented by \>500 copies/ml in blood by pcr on two consecutive assays is an exclusion.

Keywords: cultured thymus tissue implantation