Cell Therapy Infections Remain Poorly Defined
Preliminary ACR Convergence data show infection and immune complications from cellular therapies in inflammatory disease are still incompletely understood.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Arthritis
Researchers led by Calabrese presented preliminary findings from a systematic review of 25 studies at ACR Convergence in Orlando, examining infectious and immunologic complications of cellular therapies in immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Infectious complications occurred in 43% of 124 evaluable patients.
Why it matters
Cellular therapies are being used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, but the risks of infection and low antibody levels have not been fully characterized. Clearer data could help clinicians anticipate and manage these complications.
The preliminary review, drawn from 10,971 initially identified studies, found infection rates of 45% for CD19 CAR T-cell therapies, 57% for BCMA CAR T cells and 6% for CAR-natural killer therapies. Final results and long-term outcomes have not yet been reported.
The players
Calabrese
Lead researcher who presented the preliminary systematic review findings at ACR Convergence, affiliated with Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic
Academic medical center where lead researcher Calabrese is affiliated and which conducts clinical and translational research on autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases.
The details
The review covered patients aged 18 and older treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and bispecific T-cell engagers across 15 autoimmune diseases and 16 therapeutic agents. Half of the patients with hypogammaglobulinemia received intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin, and no deaths were reported among 65 patients evaluable for outcome.
Timeline
Studies published on or after Aug. 5, 2021, were eligible for inclusion in the review.
Preliminary findings were presented at ACR Convergence in Orlando on Nov. 8, 2026.
Big Picture
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies were developed for blood cancers and are now being tested in autoimmune disease, extending a safety profile built largely on oncology patients. This review is among the first systematic attempts to pool infection data across those newer uses.
For people with autoimmune conditions considering cellular therapy, the review highlights infection and low antibody levels as risks to discuss with a treating clinician. Patients should ask how infection and immunoglobulin levels will be monitored during treatment.
The takeaway
Infection and immune-function monitoring appears central to safe use of cellular therapies in autoimmune disease, and patients should raise these risks with their care team before starting treatment.
Further reading
Explore more Arthritis coverage on the site for context on immune-mediated inflammatory conditions.
