Relapsing Polychondritis Clinical Trial Participant Reclaims Her Active Life

For Michelle Munro, Dec. 9, 2001, was a normal day of playing basketball and Christmas shopping with friends until she noticed that her nose had become quite inflamed. She endured a few seasonal “Rudolph” jokes but didn’t give it much more thought. The next morning when Michelle awoke she was almost unable to move. That afternoon, Michelle was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis (RP) an uncommon autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks cartilage throughout the body. It most often affects the ears, nose, joints, spine and trachea, though many other body parts can be affected. The bouts of inflammation are not constant, but episodic and unpredictable.

In 2003, suffering from constant pain and worsening symptoms, Michelle had to leave her much-loved job with AIDS Housing of Washington. She could no longer drive and she was unable to keep up with the activities of her friends and family. When immunotherapy was no longer effective or safe for Michelle, Jane Buckner, MD, Virginia Mason rheumatologist, associate director of Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) and an expert in RP, suggested she enroll in a new clinical trial. This trial tests Abatacept, a drug approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, in patients with RP.

After six months of study treatments, Michelle is reclaiming her life. She can drive again and is thrilled to be actively volunteering in her community. With the help of her service dog, Hayden, Michelle is once again the “fun aunt” for her family.

On behalf of Michelle and all the other individuals suffering with RP and other autoimmune diseases, thank you for donating to Benaroya Research Institute. With clinical trials and research, BRI is identifying better therapies for RP and helping patients reclaim their active lives.