Medical Research: Bench to Bedside Department of Medicine (RMH/WH)

Rheumatology

Sharon performing scanThe Rheumatology Group is situated in the Department ofMedicine (RMH/WH) at the Royal Melbourne Hospital campus, in Parkville.

Research Interests

the effect of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and statins on vascular function (arterial stiffness) in rheumatoid arthritis patients;
predictors and mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in inflammatory arthritis;
decision support tools for screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with inflammatory arthritis;
the effect of DMARDs and anti-inflammatory medications on mortality following myocardial infarction in patients with inflammatory arthritis;
optimal post-myocardial infarction therapy in patients with inflammatory arthritis;
retinal vascular caliber in patients with inflammatory arthritis; and
biologic therapies in inflammatory arthritis.

Facilities

We have equipment available for measurement of arterial stiffness along with access to laboratories well equipped to carry out a full range of protein and molecular (DNA/RNA) analysis. The department has close links with the Royal Melbourne Hospital which allows for clinical studies.
There are shared office facilities for all staff and students and a computer lab with a number of networked terminals, scanner and printers. The hospital library has numerous online journals and computer facilities.
All staff have access to the nearby hospital carpark for secure off-street parking. There are banking and coffee shop/kiosk facilities close by on the hospital campus and across the road at the university.

Recent Publications

  1. Van Doornum S, Brand C, Ajani A, Sundararajan V and Wicks I. Early management of myocardial infarction in RA patients - a comparison with the general population. Internal Medicine Journal 2008; 38(Suppl. 2): A24
  2. Van Doornum S, Brand C, King B & Sundararajan V. Increased case fatality rates following a first acute cardiovascular event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2006;54(7):2061-8.
  3. Van Doornum S, Jennings G & Wicks I (2006). Reducing the cardiovascular burden in rheumatoid arthritis. Med J Aust. March, 184:287–90.
  4. Van Doornum S, McColl G & Wicks IP (2005). TNF antagonists improve disease Activity but not arterial stiffness in RA. Rheumatology (Oxford), Nov;44:1428–32.
  5. Van Doornum S, McColl G & Wicks IP (2004). Atorvastatin reduces arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis, 63:1571–5.
  6. Van Doornum S, McColl G, Jenkins A, Green DJ & Wicks IP (2003). Screening for atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: Comparison of two in-vivo tests of vascular function. Arthritis Rheum, 48:72–80.
  7. Van Doornum S, McColl G & Wicks IP (2002). Accelerated atherosclerosis: an extra-articular feature of rheumatoid arthritis? Arthritis Rheum, 46:862–73.
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