07 Feb Experimental cell therapy trial treats first Sjögren’s disease patient

UW School of Medicine and Public Health

The first person in the world to receive a dose of a novel cell therapy for a symptom of the immune disorder Sjögren’s disease has been treated during a clinical trial conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Bodily functions most take for granted, like the ability to cry or swallow, are a daily struggle for Julianne McGowan, the first research participant and patient in the trial. She suffers from xerostomia, or severe dry mouth, caused by Sjögren’s disease, a disorder that affects moisture-producing glands in the eyes, mouth and other parts of the body. The disease often accompanies other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus but can occur alone.

“Early on, before I knew what it was, I’d drink an entire glass of water and still feel thirsty, thinking there was no amount of water I could drink to prevent being thirsty,” McGowan said. Read more…