Clinical research in inflammatory rheumatism
Etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA): We are studying risk factors for developing RA. We were able to demonstrate the role of female hormonal factors, particularly the sudden drop in estrogen levels around perimenopause, on the risk of developing autoimmunity associated with RA. We are also studying the role of the digestive and dental microbiota on the risk of developing pre-clinical stages of RA. We have been able to show that the presence of certain bacterial populations in the intestinal microbiota may be associated with a higher risk of developing RA. The ultimate objective of these investigations will be to adequately identify people at very high risk of developing RA and eventually offer them limited preventive interventions.
Specific expertise
- Epidemiology of autoimmune diseases
- Statistical and methodological expertise for complex, longitudinal analyses
- Conduct of large cohort studies
Selected publications
Wells PM; Adebayo AS; Bowyer RCE; Freidin MB; Finckh A; Strowig T; Lesker TR; Alpizar-Rodriguez D; Gilbert B. et al. “Associations between gut microbiota and genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis in the absence of disease: a cross-sectional study”. LANCET Rheumatology 2020; 2: e418-27
Alpizar-Rodriguez D,* Lesker TR,* Gronow A, Gilbert B, Raemy E, Lamacchia C, Gabay C, Finckh A, # Strowig T# (*# equally contributed). “Prevotella copri in individuals at risk for rheumatoid Arthritis”.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2019;78:590-593
Loutan L; Alpizar Rodriguez D ; Finckh A, Mombelli A, and Giannopoulou E. "Periodontal status correlates with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) in first degree relatives of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis"
J Clin Periodontol. 2019 Apr 26.
D Alpizar-Rodriguez; R Müller; B Moller; Dudler J, Ciurea A, Zufferey P, Kyburz D, Walker UA, von Mühlenen I, Roux-Lombard P, Mahler M, Courvoisier DS, Gabay C, and A Finckh. "Female hormonal factors and the development of anticitrullinated protein antibodies in women at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)"
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2017 Sep 1;56(9):1579-1585
Lamacchia C, Calderin-Sollet Z, Courvoisier D, Mongin D, Palmer G, Studer O, Gabay C, Villard J, Buhler S, Finckh A. “Detection of circulating highly expanded T cell clones in at risk individuals for rheumatoid arthritis before the clinical onset of the disease.”
Abstract in Ann Rheum Dis 2019, volume 78 (s2), A1067. In press in Rheumatology (Oxford)