HLA typing of amniotic fluid cells for the prenatal determination of therapeutic transplantation options for a fetus affected with adenosine deaminase deficiency

The use of HLA typing of cultured amniotic cells for the prenatal diagnosis of the HLA-linked diseases 21-hydroxylase deficiency and complement C-2 deficiency has been reported elsewhere, and it has proved to be a clinically important procedure. The use of HLA typing of amniotic cells for the prenatal determination of paternity has also proved to be of significant medical, social, and legal value. Although the possible use of this procedure in relation to options for therapeutic bone marrow transplantation has been previously suggested, there has not, until now, been a well-documented case in which its actual value can be clearly demonstrated. This report describes such a case and suggests that additional applications of this technique should be considered.