Breakthrough in Autoimmune Disease Research

Stem Cell Research Gives New Hope to Patients

ABC News
April 10, 2006

Before seeking out Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Kathy Hammons could barely care for her children as a result of the effects of lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks itself.

She had been on oxygen for two years, was constantly fatigued, and was overweight from the steroids used to control her disease.

"I would say before this option, they [lupus patients] hit a brick wall," Burt said. "They had nothing more, no further treatments."

Burt's pioneering research, however, offered a new option. His breakthrough procedure uses a patient's stem cells to treat extremely severe cases of lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

"We bring the patient in, and we give them chemo to destroy their immune system," Burt said. "And then right after the chemotherapy, we infuse the stems cells to make a brand-new immune system."

Since undergoing Burt's stem cell procedure, Hammons' lupus has been in remission. She's off the oxygen, and she's lost 120 pounds.

"The thing I enjoy most is just being a mom again," Hammons said. "It's the best."

Hammons was part of Burt's initial stem cell transplant study conducted on 50 lupus patients. After five years, half are disease-free. Now, his work is giving hope to those suffering from other autoimmune diseases.

One of those people is Bethany Pappalardo.

A little more than a year ago, Pappalardo could not walk around the block and had no idea whether she would be able to get out of bed on any given morning.

"I woke up one morning, and my legs were numb," Pappalardo said. "By the end of the day, I was numb from the neck down."

Pappalardo was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 18 years old, and, like most MS sufferers, her symptoms manifested at any time.

"The most frustrating thing for me was I was in my freshman year in college," Pappalardo said. "I was away from home, and I had to learn to give myself injections."

Last year, Pappalardo contacted Burt.

"I thought maybe this can be different," Pappalardo said. "Maybe this can go away. Maybe I can be a typical 25-year-old."

She underwent the stem cell treatment and said the most difficult part was losing her hair. The results so far have made it worth it.

"Since the procedure, she's had not only no more attacks but she had marked improvements and she's functioning normally," Burt said.

Burt's treatment could prove to be the first effective new treatment for lupus and other autoimmune diseases in nearly 40 years.

"I never use the word 'cure,' I say it's promising," Burt said. "If I use the word 'cure,' God will humble me."

------------------------------------------------------------------------