Aleksandra Antovic

Aleksandra Antovic

Adjunct Senior Lecturer | Docent

Associate Professor and senior consultant rheumatologist studying autoimmune diseases, thrombosis, and pregnancy outcomes in women with SLE and APS.

Visiting address: D2:01, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, 17176 Stockholm
Postal address: K2 Medicin, Solna, K2 Reuma Antovic A, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:

About me

  • Aleksandra Antovic, MD, PhD is Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer Adjunct at Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Solna and senior consultant in rheumatology at Karolinska University Hospital, ME Gastroenterology Dermatology Rheumatology. 
    Dr Antovic is, together with Dr Francesca Faustini and Dr Agneta Zickert, head of Lupus clinic at Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital.

     
    Since 2024 Aleksandra has been appointed as a research group leader for the SLE/APS/ANCA-vasculitis group, at Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Solna.

Research

  • For last 20 years Aleksandra Antovic has conducted research projects in coagulation medicine and she have been able to transfer and use this unique competence in order to perform studies on the occurrence and underlying mechanisms of thromboembolic manifestations and comorbidities in inflammatory systemic diseases such as vasculitis diseases, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The research is translational, in close collaboration with clinical researchers and at the research laboratories at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) and at the coagulation research laboratory at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery.
    Through our studies, we have been able to highlight the importance of vascular complications in rheumatic diseases, which has resulted in expanding this research area and several research groups today conduct studies on these issues in collaboration with our group. We also participate in studies of clinical monitoring of vascular pregnancy complications in patients with rheumatic diseases, specially SLE and APS.
    Dr Antovic was recently awarded the Scandinavian Research Foundation/Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology's award for successful research in rheumatology.

Teaching

  • 2017-2021: Responsible for undergaduate education of medical students at the Academic Specialist Centrum, Centrum for rheumatology
    2016: Pedagogic Award at Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine Huddinge

    - Current supervisor of PhD students:
    Main supervisor:
    • Natali Karandyszowska: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. KI, Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology.
    • Esin Ylmaz: The impact of female hormonal fluctuations on SLE features and damage. KI, Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology.
    • Anna Juto: Clinical and molecular studies in ANCA-associated vasculitis. KI, Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology.

    - Supervisor of PhD students finished PhD thesis:
    Main supervisor:
    • Jelena Colic, February 2023: Hemostatic disturbances in patients with systemic sclerosis. Erasmus plus exchange of PhD students between KI and University of Belgrade, Serbia. 
    • Lalic-Cosic Sanja, May 2022: Evaluation of the hypercoagulability markers and global hemostatic tests in pregnanacies complicated with preeclampsia. Erasmus plus exchange of PhD students between KI and University of Belgrade, Serbia.
    • Aleksandra Vranic, November 2019: Circulating microparticles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Erasmus plus exchange of PhD students between KI and University of Kragujevac, Serbia. 
    Co-supervisor:
    • Asta Jonasdottir, KI, Dept. of Medicine Huddinge, thesis November 2022: Evaluation of novel biomarkers for diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis. 
    • Giorgia Grosso, KI, Dept. of Medicine Solna, thesis 2021-05-07: Thrombotic and Cardiac disease in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). 
    • Anna Vikerfors KI, Dept. of Medicine Solna, thesis 2015-02-24: Antifosfolipidsyndrom (APS): clinical, serological and genetic studies. 
    • Eli Westerlund KIDS, thesis May 2013: Effects of in vitro fertilization on hemostasis and the relationship between infertility and cardiovascular disease. 
    • Sara Tehrani KIDS, thesis 2014-01-10: Studies on haemostasis and microvascular function in patients with type 1 diabetes: effects of treatment with statin and aspirin.

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2026 - 31 December 2027
    Bakgrund: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder affecting women in reproductive age with high morbidity and mortality due to direct association with severe clinical manifestations as stroke, myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism. Women with APS suffer severe, even lifethreatening pregnancy complications during late preganancy, like preeclampsia. Målsättning: This project is composed of 4 subprojects. The aims are described for each subproject: 1. To investigate risk factors for recurrent thrombosis and to evaluate the risk scoring system adjusted Global AntiphosPholipid Syndrome Score (aGAPSS) in relation to recurrent thrombosis in the cohort of APS patients followed at the Karolinska University Hospital (KUH). 2. To study the prevalence and occurrence of other autoimmune diseases in the same cohort of patients with APS compared to general population during five years follow-up. 3. To study the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients with systemic lupus erythemathosus (SLE) compared to general population. and particularly in relation to the concomitant presence of APS and SLE-related nephritis. 4. To identify important serologic biomarkers for improved and earlier diagnosis of APS and for measuring APS disease activity. Arbetsplan: For assessing aims 1 and 2 we have retrospectively included 250 patients with APS followed at the Department of Hematology, KUH between 2014 and 2020. Considering the rarity of APS, this is one of the largest single-center APS cohorts in the world. For study 3 adults with incident SLE are identified from the Swedish National Patient Register (n=4342) and general population comparators from the Total Population Register were matched on age, sex and county (TPR n=43395). KUH SLE cohort (n=846) with matched TPR comparators (n=8058) is also assessed for incident VTE where the start of follow-up was the inclusion date. For analysis of novel antibodies in order to improve eraly APS diagnosis, we will use blood samples from 100 patients sampled at KUH. Betydelse: Our findings will be used to build strategies for early diagnosis, effective prophylaxis, personalized treatment and follow-up of APS patients in order to decrease mortality and improve quality of life for these patients.
  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2026 - 31 December 2028
    Bakgrund: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common thrombotic vascular condition, comprising deep venous thrombosis-DVT and pulmonary embolism-PE. PE has a mortality rate of >15% in the first 3 months after diagnosis. Many studies show that patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Despite the suggestive mechanistic links between systemic autoimmune diseases and VTE, these highly inflammatory conditions are under-recognized as risk factors for hypercoagulability, and the underlying mechanisms explaining the increased risk for VTEs have not been clarified. Målsättning: To identify, understand and eventually treat the underlying causes for VTE in consecutive cohorts of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In addition, we include the studies on hemostatic disturbances in pregnanat women with SLE. Arbetsplan: The cross-link between the coagulation, fibrinolysis and inflammation will be studied by investigating endothelial activation, the levels and activity of extracellular vesicles, thrombin generation, fibrin formation, fibrinolyisis and fibrin clot structure in relation to complement activation and inflammatory markers. In this way we would be able to link different steps of hemostatic process with inflammatory response and clinical characteristics of patients with AAV, SLE, APS, SSc, RA and PsA. Performing all analysis simultaneously in a single plasma sample comprises the investigation of virtually all components of hemostais without the need to analyse the whole blood. Betydelse: Identifying clinical- and laboratory characteristics of patients at VTE-risk among patients with AAV, SLE, APS, SSc, RA and PsA has important consequences in terms of management and treatment
    one might speculate that an addition of anticoagulant treatment to the aggressive anti-inflammatory treatment during flares could remodel vascular involvement especially in early stages of these diseases. The knowledge and clinical experience from this project should lead to favorable prognosis for individual patients.
  • Increased risk for thrombotic complications in patients with rheumatic diseases -from register data to individual patient and biomarkers
    Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet (ALF)
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2025
  • Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Increased risk for thrombotic complications in patients with rheumatic diseases - from register data to individual patient and biomarkers
    Heart-Lung Foundation
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
  • Clinical and laboratory predictors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with rheumatic diseases
    Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet (ALF)
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2023
  • Clinical and laboratory predictors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases
    Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet (ALF)
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Clinical and laboratory predictors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases
    Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2015 - 31 December 2018

Employments

  • Senior consultant, ME Gastroenterology, Dermatology Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, 2021-
  • Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2020-2027
  • Senior consultant, Academic Specialist Center, Center for Rheumatology, Stockholm Health Services., 2017-2021

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2015
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Dept of Surgical Science, Karolinska Institutet, 2004

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Research team leader, Research Group SLE/APS/Vasculitis, Department of Medicine Solna (MEDS), Karolinska Institutet, 2024-
  • Course coordinator, Initiator of the first Swedish national APS network, Swedish Society of Rheumatology, 2006-

Supervision

  • Supervision to doctoral degree

    • Esin Ylmaz, The impact of female hormonal fluctuations on SLE features and damage, 2023-
    • Natali Karandyszowska, Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, 2021-

Committee work

  • Member, Lancet Rheumatology Commission on Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Immune-Mediated Long-Term Conditions, The Lancet Rheumatology, 2026-
  • Chair, Swedish Rheumatology Association, 2025-
  • Member, EULAR Study Group on Reproductive Health & Family Planning, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, 2023-

Thesis evaluation

  • Mads Lamm Larsen, Opponent, Aarhus University, 2026
  • Hana Lindberg, Examination board member of halftime evaluation, Uppsala University, 2026
  • Emma Wettersand, Examination board member of halftime evaluation, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 2025
  • Ebba Westerberg, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Molecular Profiling of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), 2024
  • Shahrzad Kia Komujuni, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Optimising treatment outcomes in people leaving with systemic lupus erythematosus, 2022
  • Alexander Juto, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Clinical Neuroscience & Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Neuroimmunology Unit., Karolinska Institutet, Anti-CD20 therapy in multiple sclerosis : clinical and paraclinical outcomes, 2021
  • Muna Saleh, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences Rheumatology/Division of Inflammation & Infection, Linköping University Hospital, Half-time examination. Title: Biomarkers associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and other disease-related manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus, 2021
  • Karin Hjorton, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Uppsala Universitet, Department of Medical Sciences, The activation and regulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in SLE and possible therapeutic interventions, 2020
  • Margarita Ivanchenko, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Cellular and Molecular Factors in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Autoimmunity and Comorbidities, 2019
  • Eva Waldheim, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, When systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involves pain: occurrence and impact on daily life, 2018
  • Ingrid Lekander, Examination board member of doctoral thesis, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, 2017
  • Torstein Jensen, Opponent, Hematological Researh Laboratory, Oslo, Norway, University of Oslo, Norway, Studies on subfractions of fibrinogen. With special emphasis on fibrinogen quantification, viscosity and inflammation, 2008

News from KI

Events from KI