Mirjana Zlatković-Švenda

I feel especially inspired and strengthened to learn about the new treatment choices, particularly the novel models of therapy for autoimmune disorders that enhance patients' conditions and quality of life.

Mirjana Zlatković-Švenda, MD, PhD, is the Head of the Department for Scientific Research and Educational Activities at the Institute of Rheumatology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Mirjana Zlatković-Švenda, MD, PhD, is the Head of the Department for Scientific Research and Educational Activities at the Institute of Rheumatology in Belgrade, Serbia. She also serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia and the University of East Sarajevo Faculty of Medicine, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dr. Zlatković-Švenda holds a medical degree, a Master’s in Population Science, and a PhD in Rheumatology from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine. Her expertise lies in  spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and antiphospholipid syndrome.. She is an active member of EULAR, the Serbian Medical Association, and the Rheumatologists Association in Serbia, where she also leads the Spondyloarthritis Working Group.

In 2013, she received the award for the best oral presentation at the Annual Rheumatology Congress of Serbia with international participation.
 

Exploring the link between antiphospholipid antibodies and vascular thrombosis in severe COVID-19

Dr. Zlatković-Švenda’s research focuses on the connection between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and vascular thrombosis in patients with severe COVID-19. While aPLs are known to cause thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), coagulopathy in COVID-19 significantly increases the risk of thrombosis, leading to complications like pulmonary artery thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis and stroke. Despite initial reports of aPLs positivity in COVID-19 patients, her study found that none of the patients who died from COVID-19 pneumonia were aPLs positive at admission, though some developed thrombosis during hospitalization. 

The research suggests that transient aPLs positivity, especially in patients with a history of thrombosis, may not be  associated with new thromboses or fatal outcomes, potentially influencing post-hospitalization recommendations for anticoagulation therapy.

Studies with continuous monitoring of antiphospholipid  antibodies during and after COVID-19 are lacking, which highlights the strength of this study. Specifically,   the patients with thrombosis in COVID-19 do not meet the criteria for classification as antiphospholipid syndrome and do not require  prolonged anticoagulant therapy, but should be treated the same as the patients without positive aPLs.
 

Driven by personal experience and a passion for advancing autoimmune disorder treatments

Dr. Mirjana Zlatković-Švenda's passion for medicine is deeply personal as she was driven by her own experiences, including the hospitalization of two family members due to severe COVID-19 pneumonia with vascular thrombosis. This experience fueled her desire to understand the complexity  of the disease and its complications and motivated her to contribute to the field of research and improve outcomes for others.

Beyond her professional work, Dr. Zlatković-Švenda finds balance and joy in spending time with her family, including her three daughters, her husband and her parents, who constantly support her. She enjoys swimming, particularly exploring marine life, as well as going out with her loved ones and taking walks to unwind. Her fascination with both animals and humans has been with her since childhood and this drive has led her to pursue a career in medicine, where she continues to be inspired by  advances in the treatment of  autoimmune disorders that enhance the patients' quality of life.