CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy in Autoimmune Disease — A Case Series with Follow-up

This case series evaluates the safety and efficacy of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in 15 patients with severe autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and systemic sclerosis. Each patient received a single infusion of CD19 CAR T cells following lymphodepleting chemotherapy. All patients achieved drug free remission, with complete resolution of disease activity in SLE and idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and significant improvement in systemic sclerosis. B cell aplasia lasted a median of 112 days, and autoantibody levels dropped significantly. Adverse events were mild, with only grade 1–2 cytokine release syndrome and one case of pneumonia. The findings suggest that CD19 CAR T cell therapy may reset autoimmunity and induce long-term remission.

This case series evaluates the safety and efficacy of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in 15 patients with severe autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and systemic sclerosis. Each patient received a single infusion of CD19 CAR T cells following lymphodepleting chemotherapy. All patients achieved drug free remission, with complete resolution of disease activity in SLE and idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and significant improvement in systemic sclerosis. B cell aplasia lasted a median of 112 days, and autoantibody levels dropped significantly. Adverse events were mild, with only grade 1–2 cytokine release syndrome and one case of pneumonia. The findings suggest that CD19 CAR T cell therapy may reset autoimmunity and induce long-term remission.