The Immune System After Transplant and CAR T

Sometimes one of the most important parts of recovery is protecting the body while it rebuilds. For people who undergo a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, the immune system can remain vulnerable for months after treatment. During this time, understanding infection risk — and knowing when to seek care — becomes a critical part of recovery. In this episode of Thrive!, we take a closer look at managing infections after transplant and CAR T-cell therapy. Guided by infectious disease specialist Dr. Gowri Satyanarayana, this Deep Dive explores why infection risk exists during recovery, what symptoms should never be ignored, and how patients and care partners can reduce risk while maintaining quality of life. You’ll hear why conditions such as neutropenic fever require immediate attention, how clinicians think about the different categories of infections that can occur after treatment, and what practical steps patients and care partners can take to help prevent infections at home. We also discuss travel considerations, vaccination timelines, and how recovery gradually evolves as the immune system strengthens. In this week’s news update, we highlight several developments shaping transplant and CAR T care: ongoing efforts to expand access to CAR T-cell therapy through improvements in awareness, capacity, and healthcare infrastructure; the FDA’s approval of the first therapy specifically indicated for transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA); and new research examining patient-reported outcomes following stem cell transplant and CAR T therapy. We also highlight a resource that may help: BMT InfoNet’s Caring Connections program, which connects patients, survivors, and care partners with trained volunteers who understand the transplant and CAR T experience firsthand. ⸻ CHAPTER MARKERS 00:01 Welcome! 00:46 Updates – CAR T Access and Availability 02:27 Updates – FDA Approves First Therapy for TA-TMA 03:56 Updates – Patient-Reported Outcomes After Treatment 05:21 A Quick Note 06:14 Something That May Help – Caring Connections 07:12 Deep Dive – Cold Open 08:11 Deep Dive – Managing Infections After Treatment 09:38 Deep Dive – Understanding Neutropenic Fever 11:04 Deep Dive – Four Categories of Infections 14:53 Deep Dive – Preventing Infections at Home 16:04 Deep Dive – Travel After Treatment 16:36 Deep Dive – Vaccinations After Transplant and CAR T 18:08 Deep Dive – Takeaways 19:32 One Last Thought ⸻ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Deep Dive Presentation Dr. Gowri Satyanarayana – Managing Infections After Transplant and CAR T-Cell Therapy https://bmtinfonet.org/video/managing... News Articles Mentioned Targeted Oncology – Promoting CAR T Access: Awareness, Capacity, and Economics https://targetedonc.com/view/promotin... Omeros – FDA Approves YARTEMLEA™ as the First Therapy for TA-TMA https://investor.omeros.com/news-rele... Blood Advances – Patient-Reported Outcomes After Stem Cell Transplant and CAR T-Cell Therapy https://ashpublications.org/bloodadva... Something That May Help BMT InfoNet – Caring Connections https://bmtinfonet.org/support/caring... Patient Stories from the BMT and CAR T Community https://bmtinfonet.org/stories Join the BMT InfoNet Facebook Community   / bonemarrowstemcelltransplantclub   Email us [email protected] Links were active at the time of publication.