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Experimental lupus treatment has been 'life-changing'

Rachael McMenemyand
Alex Dunlop
News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC Laura is sitting on a bench in a park. Behind her are a row of trees and some hedges and grass. She is wearing a khaki sweatshirt and has short, curly blonde hair.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Laura says the experimental CAR-T cell treatment she received has been life-changing

For 20 years, Laura's body was ravaged with excruciating symptoms of an autoimmune disease.

But a year ago, she became one of the first in the world to try an experimental treatment for lupus through Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, which she says has been "life-changing".

The 36-year-old, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, said she hoped "more and more" people would be offered the treatment.

A second phase of the trial is about to start, giving more people access to the treatment.

Laura first started experiencing symptoms after a bout of glandular fever when she was 14, which was the catalyst for two decades of severe, debilitating symptoms.

She suffered from a blistering rash that "ravaged" her body - and her pain was so bad she could not sit up in bed, walk or even lift a cup.

Last year, she became one of the first people to be treated for lupus using CAR-T cells.

News imageSubmitted The image shows a blistered red rash on Laura's legs. Submitted
Laura had a blistering rash all over her body

The process involves removing some cells from the blood, modifying them in a lab and then putting them back into the blood after the patient receives a course of chemotherapy.

The cells continue to grow once in the body meaning often one treatment is enough for long term or life long relief from symptoms.

Laura said: "I can do so much more than she ever could before.

"I wake up in the morning and I don't have the sense of dread because my whole body isn't heavy from the aches and I'm not sore."

"I can do things and not pay for it. I can walk my dog, I can work more, go out with my friends more.

"I still have bad days but every day isn't a bad day any more," she added.

"I do hope it is offered to more and more people because if this can change someone's life, why not?"

What is lupus?

According to the NHS, lupus affects 1 in 1,000 people and is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by immune system cells attacking other parts of the body.

Symptoms can commonly include joint pain, severe rashes, fatigue and poor blood flow.

In severe cases, the damage to the body can lead to breathing issues, cardiovascular problems and kidney damage.

News imageThe graphic titled “How the therapy works” is a multi-panel medical illustration showing a step-by-step process inside blood vessels, using red cylindrical tube shapes to represent the bloodstream and circular icons labelled “B” and “T” to represent B cells and T cells. In the top-left panel, blue T cells and grey B cells are shown circulating together with the caption, “B and T cells in blood defend the body against infection,” establishing the normal immune system function. In the top-right panel, some B cells are highlighted in purple to indicate “rogue B-cells,” accompanied by text explaining that these abnormal cells can attack the body and cause autoimmune disease. The middle section shows a simplified lab-like circle containing T cells, alongside the text “Scientists change T cells' targeting mechanism to attack B-cells and put them back in patient,” indicating that T cells are engineered to target all B cells. In the next panel, modified T cells are shown destroying both normal and rogue B cells inside the bloodstream, with the caption “T-cells wipe out rogue and healthy B-cells.” Finally, the bottom panel shows the bloodstream repopulated with new B cells and T cells, with the text “Months later, fresh B cells grow – resetting immune system,” illustrating recovery and immune system reset, and a small note at the bottom credits “Source: BBC research” along with a BBC logo.

Laura said the CAR-T treatment was her "last hope" and despite the difficulties was "the best decision I ever made".

She had previously undergone a range of treatments, including seven different chemotherapies and immunotherapies.

Originally developed to attack cancer cells, CAR-T cells are being explored as treatments for other illnesses.

Prof David Jayne, a specialist in lupus at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), said: "Laura's case is especially challenging and has proven unusually resistant to standard treatments.

"The CAR-T trial was an opportunity to try something new and we're very pleased to see how well Laura is doing following the treatment."

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