Dr. Elena Gkrouzman, Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, is a clinical researcher whose goal has been to understand the complex conditions of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). Her driver, to offer a wide breadth of knowledge to her patients, allowing them to focus on what is most important to them, their life’s goals.
Dr. Elena Gkrouzman, Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, is a clinical researcher whose goal has been to understand the complex conditions of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). Her driver, to offer a wide breadth of knowledge to her patients, allowing them to focus on what is most important to them, their life’s goals. SLE is a multiorgan autoimmune connective tissue disease with a clinical presentation that varies from mild to critical and can be organ threatening. A proportion of patients with SLE may also test positive for antiphospholipid antibodies. These antibodies may be associated with thrombotic events and pregnancy morbidity, which is a rare condition.
Dr. Gkrouzman’s interest began over nine years ago while working at the Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Research at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. At that time, Dr. Gkrouzman and two other researchers were looking at type I interferon signature in patients with SLE and its correlation with disease activity and organ involvement, which has an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Under the auspices of APS ACTION, an international network, created to design and conduct large-scale multi-center trials of patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies or APS, she collaborated with many world-renowned experts including mentor, Dr. Doruk Erkan, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York. The APS ACTION made it possible to study large cohorts of patients with APS, to better understand the disease and to answer important questions pertaining to pathogenesis and management.
Dr. Gkrouzman explains, “Diseases such as SLE and APS, may have profound implications for the quality of life of our patients.” She says, “We have taken many approaches to our research including the racial differences in antiphospholipid antibody profiles in patients with SLE and a history of venous thrombotic events. We need to understand all aspects of this disease including the contributions of risk factors for different races/ethnicities.”
There is hope on the horizon. Through research, anifrolumab which is a monoclonal antibody against type I interferon receptor, has shown efficacy in controlling lupus disease activity and is currently under FDA consideration. However, more research is necessary to understand the disease heterogeneity, discover better treatments and tailor these treatments to the right patients.
Dr. Gkrouzman is looking forward to working with the esteemed researchers at UMass in the Department of Medicine, especially those that share her interest in lupus and autoimmune connective tissue diseases.