ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME (APS) PROGRAM UPDATE |
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Thank you for your interest in and support of our APS Program! We continue to pursue personalized, proactive treatments for APS with a long-term goal of a cure. We do this work to make lives better, and we hope we can use these emails to build a community of others who want the same. We’re all in this together! |
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Drug Made from Pig Intestine Helps Escape the “Trap” of Clot-Causing Immune Response |
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The Knight Lab and colleagues find that the drug defibrotide suppressed neutrophils from releasing NETs and also reduced downstream blood-clotting. Dr. Knight discusses how these findings could set the stage to better treat people with APS. Read more.
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RESEARCH & CLINICAL TRIALS |
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Queen Anne’s Lupus, COVID-19, and the Pursuit of Personalized Medicine for APS |
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Dr. Jason Knight discusses the history of APS, some current projects in his laboratory, and one of the goals of the Michigan Medicine APS Program at Johns Hopkins University Virtual Hematology Grand Rounds in November 2021. Watch his lecture.
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University of Michigan Health recently received a letter of gratitude from a patient who experienced life-saving care for antiphospholipid syndrome through a multidisciplinary team of U-M physicians and staff, including our own Dr. Ray Zuo. Our team is honored and proud to have taken part in this patient’s treatment and recovery, and were moved to share the patient’s story. |
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“I am writing this letter to express my gratitude for your organization and, in particular, the physicians who saved my life and got me back on my feet.
I had been a patient of another health system for most of my life which had helped me manage my blood disorder, lupus anticoagulant blood syndrome. This changed dramatically a couple of years ago when I was diagnosed with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. I was in and out of the hospital many times and needed a lengthy rehabilitation.
The disease caused me more issues a couple of years later. I was hospitalized several times (at the same hospital) and had heart, lung, and kidney damage. The hospital I was at could not figure out what to do with me. I felt they basically gave up. Their treatments did not improve my situation.
I checked myself into the emergency room at your hospital. I could barely breathe or walk. Your team jumped into action and immediately stabilized me. Then they spent over a week working out the best course of action since I was in a very weakened condition.
I am so impressed by the attention and communication I experienced while in your organization's care. Your physicians, nurses, and staff were phenomenal. I wish I could name them all, as I do owe them my life.
Drs. James Froehlich, Marion Hofmann-Bowman, and Ray Zuo supervised my care along with many others from cardiology, rheumatology, and hematology (again, I wish I could name them all). Drs. Meriah Moore and Deeba Minhas spent a significant amount of time with me during my stay; keeping me informed, answering my questions, and improving my spirits.
Since my departure, several doctors, including my main physician, Dr. Zuo have helped with my ongoing recovery.
I cannot thank your organization enough for what they have done for me. Without them, I know I would not be here.”
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APS PROGRAM COMMUNITY Q&A SERIES |
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How Can I Lower the Risk of Blood Clots While Traveling? |
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The APS Program Community Q&A Series, written by Dr. Ray Zuo, was created to answer questions we receive from the APS Program community and covers a variety of topics. In this month’s edition, with the holiday season approaching, Dr. Zuo discusses safe travel and steps you can take to lower the risk of travel-related blood clots. Read more.
We are interested in providing additional relevant patient education and would like to hear your thoughts. Share your ideas by sending an email to MichiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu.
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APS 101, written by Dr. Jacqueline Madison, takes you through the ins and outs of APS, providing facts and key information to help you better understand the disease. In this month’s edition, Dr. Madison discusses APS classification criteria and what they mean. Read more.
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Our lab is comprised of many talented and dedicated researchers all working towards the common goal of making the lives of APS patients better. This month we are highlighting one of our APS Program International Visiting Scholars, Katarina Kmetova, MSc. |
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Meet Katarina Kmetova
Katarina Kmetova, MSc is an International Visiting Scholar who is working on a 6-month internship in the Knight Lab. Katarina studied biomedical physics at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees. Read more.
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SPARK BARK:
WHAT’S SPARKY UP TO A-HOUND TOWN?
by Amelia K. Knight
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Sparky is a 5-year-old beagle. My family and I adopted him after an undisclosed good Samaritan found him wandering the streets, looking for food and friends. Here are some of Sparky's recent escapades. |
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As you know from my previous articles, Sparky’s favorite thing is to spend time in the backyard, playing with (hunting) his gaggle of woodland creatures. Right now, Sparky has a particularly big discord with the squirrels, who just keep getting away from him no matter how hard he tries! Sparky has therefore started learning the art of camouflage, using his brown and white parts to blend in with leaves and snow and whatever else. When we go outside to call him in, we can hardly see him even when he’s hidden in plain sight. Though it hasn't so far helped him against the sharp eyes of the wildlife, he can quite easily hide from the naked human eye!
Now, when Sparky's inside and must find ways to enthrall himself, he has decided to get bold. He has started jumping onto the countertop in broad daylight, where we can catch him at any moment, just to purloin the scraps of food. One day, he hopped onto the countertop and gobbled down the last of our chip bag. So, when my mother caught him, he was just indulging himself on chips. Boy, was he ever thirsty after that. We now must make sure all the chairs are pushed in so Sparky can’t use them to get onto the countertop. We assume he is plotting his next move, but he hasn’t shown his cards yet. I will of course keep you updated!
That’s all for now. Thanks for coming to my Spark Bark!
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We know you have many options when it comes to end-of-year giving. Why not choose the APS Program at Michigan Medicine, where donations are used to support new pilot projects that are difficult to fund from other sources? Every bit helps. And we are always open to your ideas!
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Michigan Medicine
1150 West Medical Center Drive
5504 MSRB 1
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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