CAR T cell therapy restores mobility for stiff person syndrome patient
A clinical trial at the University of Colorado Anschutz helped Lynn Montgomery-Haga regain mobility after suffering from stiff person syndrome.
Montgomery-Haga previously struggled to walk. She could not move twenty-five feet without support due to severe muscle stiffness. Constant pain from her condition made daily activities very difficult.
Her neurologist noted she relied heavily on a walker or wheelchair. Her gait was very stiff and hesitant during daily activities.
The experimental treatment extracts immune cells. It engineers them to attack the specific cells causing the debilitating autoimmune disease.
This new approach targets the source of the problem. Older medications often cause mental fog while managing symptoms. The therapy addresses the underlying cause instead.
After receiving the therapy, she can now stride through her living room. She can landscape her front yard without needing to brace herself.
She has not fallen once since starting the treatment. She feels significantly more capable in her everyday life now.
Scientists hope this method could eventually treat other autoimmune diseases. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis might benefit from resetting the immune system.
It eliminates harmful cells to stop the attacks. While long-term side effects are unknown, early results suggest this living drug might herald a new era for autoimmune disease therapeutics.
“I'm just really excited about the future.”