Car T Cell Therapy Lymphoma Side Effects

Cytokine release syndrome crs you may have heard of the cytokine storm in 2018 when many people got seriously ill during flu season.

Car t cell therapy lymphoma side effects.

While the therapy can lead to long lasting remissions for some patients with very advanced cancer it can also cause neurologic side effects such as speech problems tremors delirium and seizures. Once they enter the body car t cells initiate a massive release of proteins called cytokines which summon other elements of the immune system to join the attack on tumor cells. As the car t cells work to fight cancer they cause the release of large amounts of other t cells into the blood along with cytokines which are proteins released by cells that communicate to other cells that there s a job to be done. Some side effects can be severe or fatal.

To prepare the body for car t cell therapy patients receive a small dose of chemotherapy which may cause other side effects such as fatigue and low blood count. Car t cell therapy involves extracting a cancer patient s white blood cells and reprogramming the t cells the roving warriors of the immune system with an antibody like protein called chimeric antigen receptor or car. As car t cells multiply they cause massive amounts of chemicals called cytokines to be released into the blood. The resulting onslaught can produce dangerously high fevers extreme fatigue difficulty breathing and a sharp drop in blood pressure.

Cytokine release syndrome which is similar to flu like symptoms headache. Cytokine release syndrome fever and chills low blood pressure and low oxygen levels nervous system problems which might include brain problems encephalopathy headache twitching or shaking tremor. The modified cells are returned to the patient s body a process that takes less than 10 minutes. Low white blood.

Common side effects of car t cells which can affect more than 1 in 5 people include. Some people have had serious side effects from this treatment especially as the car t cells multiply in the body to fight the cancer. Serious side effects of this release can include very high fevers and dangerously low blood pressure in the days after treatment is given. The possible side effects that your doctor will discuss with you include.

Neurologic events can also be experienced and can be serious in some patients. Car t cell therapy side effects.