David Freiholtz

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About me

David Freiholtz is a research medical intern at the Karolinska University Hospital and PhD student at the department of medicine, Solna.
Recipient of Senning scholarship 2024.
Doctoral projects include:
1. Degenerative aneurysm of the ascending – regulating and driving molecular and cellular mechanisms
PMID: 37698712
2. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition – differences between patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves
PMID: 37162557
3. Initiating factors to the development of degenerative ascending aortopathy
PMID: 40740135
4. Blood-borne markers of ascending aortic growth

Research

Ascending aortic pathology in relation to aortic valve phenotype.

Teaching

Teaching science, anatomy, histology, physiology and radiology at:
1. Medical program at Karolinska Institutet
2. Course 'Människans fysiologi' at Karolinska Institutet
3. Rreaearch preparatory course 1 and 2 (FOLÄK 1 and FOLÄK 2) at Karolinska Institutet

Articles

Article: ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY. 2025;45(9):1636-1647
Tricuspid Aortic Valve Regurgitation Associates With Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Through Endothelial Activation and Lipoprotein Infiltration
Freiholtz D; Reyes-Goya C; Lang K; Bergman O; Olsson C; Granbom Koski M; Dismorr M; Osterholm C; Caidahl K; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Gistera A; Bjorck HM
Journal article: ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY. 2025;45:awe0014
Endothelial Mesenchymal Activation And Lipoprotein Infiltration In Patients With Regurgitant Aortic Valves - Part Of The Natural History Of Degenerative Ascending Aortic Aneurysm
Freiholtz D; Lang K; Bergman O; Olsson C; Koski MG; Dismorr M; Corbascio CO; Caidahl K; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Gistera A; Bjorck H
Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2025;15(1):667
Fracture properties of porcine versus human thoracic aortas from tricuspid/bicuspid aortic valve patients via symmetry-constraint Compact Tension testing
Alloisio M; Siika A; Freiholtz D; Franco-Cereceda A; Roy J; Bjorck HM; Gasser TC
Journal article: EJVES SHORT REPORTS. 2024;62:s3-s4
The Natural History of Ascending Aortic Aneurysms Involve Infiltration of Lipoproteins and Immune Cells
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Lång K; Corbascio CÖ; Olsson C; Franco-cereceda A; Eriksson P; Gisterå A; Björck HM
Article: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM. 2023;101(10):1323-1333
SPP1/osteopontin: a driver of fibrosis and inflammation in degenerative ascending aortic aneurysm?
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Pradhananga S; Lang K; Poujade F-A; Granath C; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Sahlen P; Eriksson P; Bjorck HM
Journal article: ATHEROSCLEROSIS. 2023;379:s54
BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE AORTOPATHY IS CHARACTERIZED BY EMBRYONIC ENDOTHELIAL TO MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION AND ENDOTHELIAL INSTABILITY
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Lang K; Poujade F-A; Paloschi V; Granath C; Lindeman J; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Bjorck HM
Journal article: ATHEROSCLEROSIS. 2023;379:s31
POSSIBLE ROLE OF SPP1 IN DEGENERATIVE ASCENDING AORTIC ANEURYSM FORMATION
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Poujade F-A; Granath C; Lang K; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Bjorck HM; Eriksson P
Article: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM. 2023;101(7):801-811
Bicuspid aortic valve aortopathy is characterized by embryonic epithelial to mesenchymal transition and endothelial instability
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Lang K; Poujade F-A; Paloschi V; Granath C; Lindeman JHN; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Bjorck HM
Journal article: ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY. 2023;43
A Possible Role Of Apolipoprotein B In Degenerative Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Formation And Progression
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Corbascio CO; Lang K; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Gistera A; Bjorck HM
Article: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. 2022;11(9):e024346
Acetylsalicylic Acid Is Associated With a Lower Prevalence of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm and a Decreased Aortic Expression of Cyclooxygenase 2
Granath C; Freiholtz D; Bredin F; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Bjorck HM

All other publications

Preprint: MEDRXIV. 2025
Global Trends and Risk Factors of Aortic Aneurysm Mortality from 1990 to 2021: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Câsu R-M; Metz L; Freiholtz D; Zheng X; Björck H; Zheng X
Preprint: MEDRXIV. 2024
Lipoprotein retention and inflammation due to regurgitant blood flow as part of the natural history of degenerative ascending aortic aneurysms
Freiholtz D; Lång K; Bergman O; Olsson C; Granbom Koski M; Dismorr M; Österholm C; Caidahl K; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Gisterå A; Björck H
Book chapter: AORTIC VALVE DISEASE - RECENT ADVANCES: CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE. 2024;p.
Ascending Aortic Aneurysm in Relation to Aortic Valve Phenotype
Freiholtz D; Eriksson P; M. Björck H
Conference publication: AORTA. 2023;11(05):1-18
The Natural History of Ascending Aortic Aneurysms Involves a Site-Specific Infiltration of Lipoproteins and Immune Cells
Freiholtz D; Bergman O; Lång K; Corbascio CÖ; Olsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Gisterå A; Björck HM
Conference publication: AORTA. 2022;10:a1-a56
Possible Role of SPP1 in Degenerative Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Formation
Bergman O; Freiholtz D; Poujade F-A; Granath C; Lång K; Ohlsson C; Franco-Cereceda A; Eriksson P; Björck H

Employments

Phd Student, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2025
Phd Student, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2024
Phd Student, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2024

Degrees and Education

Degree Of Master Of Science In Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022

About me

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