CAR-T Cell Therapy Enables Safe Pregnancy for Women with Autoimmune Diseases

An international study led by Prof. Dr. Georg Schett of the University Hospital Erlangen and collaborators from Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the United States found that women with severe autoimmune diseases can have uncomplicated pregnancies after receiving CD19‑CAR‑T cell therapy. The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, documented 14 pregnancies and eight births among women with conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus. All pregnancies proceeded without complications, the infants were healthy and developed age‑appropriate immune systems, and none of the mothers experienced a relapse of their autoimmune disease despite no longer taking immunosuppressive medication.

The CD19‑CAR‑T therapy works by targeting disease‑causing B cells, inducing long‑lasting remission and restoring quality of life. The findings suggest a new therapeutic pathway that may remove a major barrier to family planning for women affected by autoimmune disorders.