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How CAR-T Could Transform Lupus

May 12, 2025 ·

Learn how CAR-T therapy re-engineers immune cells to target B cells, offering new hope for lupus remission and treatment.

Autoimmunity 101: Why Does Lupus Happen?

Lupus is one of the most complex autoimmune diseases, but at its core, it all starts with the immune system turning on itself. Normally, your immune system is like a factory with a top-notch quality control system. Regulatory cells make sure the immune “robots” attacking bacteria and viruses don’t go rogue and start targeting your healthy tissues.

Read more: How CAR-T Could Transform Lupus

But in lupus, that quality control breaks down. B cells—key players in the immune system—start producing auto-antibodies that mistake your body’s own tissues for invaders. These auto-antibodies cause inflammation, leading to symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, and even organ damage.

CAR-T Therapy: Using Your Immune System to Fight Lupus

Now, here’s where CAR-T therapy comes in. This groundbreaking autoimmune disease therapy doesn’t just manage symptoms—it addresses the problem at its root.

The process begins with a sample of your T cells being taken from your blood. Scientists then re-engineer these cells in a lab, equipping them with new “tools” to recognize and destroy the rogue B cells responsible for lupus. Once they’re ready, these enhanced T cells are reinfused into your body, where they hunt down and eliminate the problem cells.

This therapy has already shown life-changing results in cancer treatment, and early studies in lupus are just as exciting. Patients with severe, treatment-resistant lupus have experienced remission lasting well beyond the expected timeframe.

CAR-T Therapy: Benefits

CAR-T therapy represents a massive leap forward in lupus treatment and research. Imagine a therapy that uses your own immune system to reset itself—this is the promise of CAR-T.

For patients who have tried everything else, this therapy offers hope for long-lasting remission. It’s a perfect example of bioengineering and targeted immune therapy working together to tackle autoimmune diseases at their source.

CAR-T Therapy: Risks

As exciting as CAR-T therapy is, it’s not without challenges. The process requires a round of chemotherapy before the reinfusion, which suppresses the immune system to make room for the re-engineered T cells. This means there’s a risk of infection during treatment.

Additionally, the reintroduced T cells can sometimes cause an inflammatory response, which, while rare, can be severe. And then there’s the cost—right now, CAR-T therapy is incredibly expensive, making it inaccessible for many patients.

Despite these hurdles, researchers are working hard to improve safety, reduce costs, and make this therapy more widely available.

The Future of CAR-T Therapy in Lupus

We’re still in the early days of CAR-T therapy for autoimmune diseases, but the potential is enormous. This therapy isn’t just about treating lupus symptoms; it’s about changing the game entirely.

Key questions remain: Who is the best candidate for CAR-T therapy? What are the long-term effects? And how can we make it safer and more affordable? The good news is that the research is moving fast, and every study brings us closer to answers.

For now, CAR-T therapy offers a glimpse of what’s possible in lupus treatment. It’s an exciting time in autoimmune disease research, and while there’s still work to do, the promise of long-lasting remission gives hope to many.

If you’re living with lupus or know someone who is, keeping up with the latest research is essential. CAR-T therapy isn’t ready for everyone yet, but it’s a perfect example of how science is pushing boundaries to improve lives.

Curious about clinical trials or want to learn more? Check out resources and stay informed about the future of autoimmune disease breakthroughs. Together, we’re moving toward a brighter future for lupus treatment.

Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz, double board certified Rheumatologist

Can Your Medications Cause Lupus?

January 27, 2025 ·

Drug induced lupus can act like lupus but resolves when the medication is stopped

Drug-induced lupus, a form of lupus caused by certain medications, and not something you hear much about. It differs from the regular “systemic” lupus in multiple ways, including the expected symptoms, the positive blood tests and the prognosis. 

What is Drug-Induced Lupus?

We’ve all heard of lupus, but did you know there’s a version that can be triggered by medications? It is called drug-induced lupus. Unlike the more familiar systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a chronic autoimmune disease, drug-induced lupus occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to a specific medication.

[Read more…] about Can Your Medications Cause Lupus?

Know the Prednisone Side Effects

December 23, 2021 ·

It's important to know the side effects of prednisone

Let me be clear – I wouldn’t want to be on prednisone either. In fact, when suffering from a wicked case of vertigo, I fought my doctor buddies who advised I take a Medrol dose pack to ease the symptoms.

“I’m going to gain weight!” “I’m going to have anxiety!”

As a Rheumatologist, I am well-versed in all the possible side effects of prednisone (and similar meds) and feared the worse.

But I also know that there is a time a place for prednisone. Not only was I currently in need of the benefits of prednisone, many of my patients are as well. But there ARE side effects that need to be considered and discussed.

[Read more…] about Know the Prednisone Side Effects

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment – pt 1

July 28, 2021 ·

It takes a medical degree, a 3 year Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship to learn how to best treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. There are many nuances and caveats and even seasoned rheumatologists find themselves asking for help from colleagues. But it doesn’t serve anyone to leave all the decision making to the doctor. Although the topic can get complicated, there are concepts that everyone with RA should be familiar with. Understanding the strategy behind why your doctor prescribes certain medications can ensure that you continue to have productive and effective conversations.

[Read more…] about Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment – pt 1

Fibromyalgia Treatment: the basics

January 5, 2021 ·

Find out how to treat Fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia symptoms with the currently FDA approved medications.

Getting a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia can be relieving, yet terrifying, all at the same time. For those dealing with unexplained symptoms, just to know it has a name can be reassuring. However that relief can replaced by overwhelm as we enter into the world of fibromyalgia treatment. There are currently only 3 FDA approved medications for fibromyalgia, all of which focus on the nervous system. For many, these types of medications are new and can come with scary sounding side effects. Why are these the medications approved and what do they do? What do they not do?

[Read more…] about Fibromyalgia Treatment: the basics
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