Scientists have made a major breakthrough in treating this serious autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases are numerous and difficult to treat. Lupus is one of the most common diseases affecting over 200,000 people annually, disrupting their bodies and lifestyles. Now a new study is the first to effectively treat lupus in five patients and push the disease into remission.

Researchers in Germany believe their work represents a significant moment that could help treat other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, involved four women and one man, aged between 18 and 24, with severe lupus. They received transfusions of modified immune cells, a technique called CAR-T cell therapy that has been successful in treating some types of cancer. For this research, doctors took T cells from patients, modified them, and put them back into their bodies.

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The study was a success as all participants entered the remission stage of their disease. These patients have been off their lupus medications for three to 17 months while their bodies function properly.

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The Guardian interviewed study leader Professor Georg Schett, who said he and his team were very excited about these results. “Several other autoimmune diseases that are B cell dependent and have autoantibodies could respond to this treatment,” he said. “These include rheumatoid arthritis, myositis and systemic sclerosis. But diseases such as multiple sclerosis can also respond very well to treatment with CAR-T cells.”

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Lupus is a disease that occurs when the human immune system attacks healthy tissues instead of harmful substances. There’s still a lot unknown about the condition, including why it occurs, with researchers theorizing it could be a side effect to certain medications, changes in puberty or menopause, and more.

The disease can cause fatigue, pain, and even organ damage, with flare-ups and periods when it is dormant, making it difficult to diagnose.