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Helena Enocsson

PhD, Researcher in rheumatology with focus on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Biomarkers of inflammation and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

SLE is an autoimmune disease which may affect multiple organ systems. It's heterogeneity implies clinical challenges regarding diagnostics, follow-up and treatment. About 90% of the patients are women.

The disease course in SLE is characterized by flares and remissions. Treatment as well as disease activity may cause permanent organ damage which has an impact on the quality of life, morbidity and mortality. 

Our research group study rheumatic diseases from a clinical- as well as experimental perspective. The focus of my research is biomarkers of inflammation and organ damage in SLE and other inflammatory diseases, with a special interest in acute phase proteins, autoantibodies and interferon alpha.

The overall aim is to find biomarkers for improved diagnostics, follow-up and targeted therapy in SLE.

About me

Education

  • Medical student, the Medical Program, LIU, 2019-ongoing

  • PhD, 2014

  • Master of Medical Science in Medical Biology, 2008

Teaching

  • Supervisor of degree projects
  • Supervisor of tutorial groups (the Medical program, Medical Biology, etc.)
  • Laboratory teaching

Membership and networks

  • The Swedish Society for Rheumatology (SRF)
  • The Swedish SLE network
  • DISSECT consortium (Dissecting disease mechanisms in three systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases with an interferon signature)

Publications

2023

Francis Hopkins, Johan Nordgren, Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Helena Enocsson, Melissa Govender, Cecilia Svanberg, Lennart Svensson, Marie Hagbom, Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson, Sofia Nyström, Christopher Sjöwall, Johanna Sjöwall, Marie Larsson (2023) Pentameric C-reactive protein is a better prognostic biomarker and remains elevated for longer than monomeric CRP in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 Frontiers in Immunology, Vol. 14, Article 1259005 Continue to DOI
Awais Ahmad, Andre Brylid, Charlotte Dahle, Muna Atallah Saleh, Örjan Dahlström, Helena Enocsson, Christopher Sjöwall (2023) Doubtful Clinical Value of Subtyping Anti-U1-RNP Antibodies Regarding the RNP-70 kDa Antigen in Sera of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol. 24, Article 10398 Continue to DOI
Lina Wirestam, Frida Jönsson, Helena Enocsson, Christina Svensson, Maria Weiner, Jonas Wetterö, Helene Zachrisson, Per Eriksson, Christopher Sjöwall (2023) Limited Association between Antibodies to Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein and Vascular Affection in Patients with Established Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol. 24, Article 8987 Continue to DOI
Cecilia Svanberg, Helena Enocsson, Melissa Govender, Klara Martinsson, Lawrence A. Potempa, Ibraheem M. Rajab, Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Jonas Wetterö, Marie Larsson, Christopher Sjöwall (2023) Conformational state of C-reactive protein is critical for reducing immune complex-triggered type I interferon response: Implications for pathogenic mechanisms in autoimmune diseases imprinted by type I interferon gene dysregulation Journal of Autoimmunity, Vol. 135, Article 102998 Continue to DOI
Hjalmar Waller, Noelia Carmona Vicente, Axel James, Melissa Govender, Francis Hopkins, Marie Larsson, Marie Hagbom, Lennart Svensson, Helena Enocsson, Annette Gustafsson, Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson, Johanna Sjöwall, Johan Nordgren (2023) Viral load at hospitalization is an independent predictor of severe COVID-19 European Journal of Clinical Investigation, Vol. 53, Article e13882 Continue to DOI

News

Blood sampling in clinical setting from finger.

C-reactive protein reduces immune response in inflammatory disease

The biological function of the C-reactive protein, CRP, has long been unknown. Researchers now show that this protein has a beneficial function in SLE, an inflammatory disease. But this is true only for one of CRP’s two forms, according to the study.

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