Olga Dvorkina, MD

Education

• 1978-1984: Kaunas Medical Institute, Kaunas, Lithuania, MD

Post-graduate Training

• 1997-1999: Fellowship in Rheumatology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
• 1994-1997: Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine, St. John's Episcopal Hospital, South Shore, Far Rockaway, NY
• 1984-1986: Internship in Internal Medicine, Leningrad City Hospital #38, Leningrad, USSR

Career / Research Interests

Principal investigator for the following studies:

1. Efficacy and Safety of Abatacept vs. Placebo on a background of Mycophenolate Mofetil and glucocorticoids in the treatment of subjects with active proliferative glomerulonephritis due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
2. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus investigator-initiated ongoing project in collaboration with the dermatology division. Medication for this open label study is being provided by Ocean Blue Pharmaceutical Company.
3. Efficacy and Safety of Abatacept vs. Placebo on a background of Mycophenolate Mofetil and glucocorticoids in the treatment of subjects with active proliferative glomerulonephritis due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
4. Efficacy and Safety of Abatacept vs. Placebo on a background of oral glucocorticoids in the treatment of subjects with SLE and the prevention of subsequent lupus flares

Clinical director Lupus Clinical Trials Consortium (LCTC): This is a multicenter registry of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus following 100 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at our center as part or this national registry.

Co-investigator in the following studies, with Dr. Ginzler as principal investigator:

1. Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics: This is a long-term multicenter collaboration which carries out outcome studies in SLE and has led to many publications. Funding for individual projects is negotiated depending upon resources obtained each year from grant funds and pharmaceutical support. Currently there are a number of ongoing projects which provide an opportunity for Rheumatology fellows to participate, including:
   • The association of SLE with malignancies, including lymphomas and solid tumors
   • Outcomes in lupus nephritis
   • An inception cohort assessing the incidence and risks for atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease, CVA's) in SLE
   • An inception cohort assessing neuropsychiatric manifestations and outcome in SLE
   • Development of updated classification criteria for SLE
   • Development of an instrument to assess disease flares in SLE
2. Human Genome Sciences LBSL02/LBSL99 open label Phase 2 extension study of belimumab in patients with SLE
3. Human Genome Sciences 1066 open label Phase 3 extension study of belimumab in patients with SLE
4. HGS C115 BLISS-SC: A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, 52-Week Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab (HGS1006) Administered Subcutaneously (SC) to Subjects with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
5. HGS C1121 BLISS-LN: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab plus Standard of Care versus Placebo plus Standard of Care in Adult Subjects with Active Lupus Nephritis
6. HGS C1112 EMBRACE: A Phase 3/4, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, 52-Week Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab (HGS1006) in Adult Subjects of Black Race with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
7. Takeda MLN9708_101 MRD Study in Lupus Nephritis:A Phase 1b, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetic Study of Multiple Rising Doses of MLN9708 for the Treatment of Subjects With ISN / RPS Class III or IV Lupus Nephritis. This study is pending budget and IRB approval.
8. Aurinia Pharmaceuticals: A Randomized, Controlled Double-blind Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Voclosporin (23.7 mg BID, or 39.5 mg BID) with Placebo in Achieving Remission in Patients with Active Lupus Nephritis. GSK subcutaneous autoinjector trial of patients with SLE receiving commercial intravenous maintenance belimumab. This study is pending budget and IRB approval.
9. [265103-2] A National Consortium to Explore the Genotypic Basis for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in Lupus. The initial part of this study has been completed but an extension is planned. The overall PI is Dr. Robert Kimberly at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

• Morgan ND., Patel SV., Dvorkina O. Suspected Hydroxychloroquine associated QT interval prolongation in a patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology; August 2013-Vol.19-Issue5-p.286-288.
• Dvorkina O., Ginzler EM. Rheumatology, 6th edition: Hochberg, 2012. Chapter 126- Clinical Features of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
• Dvorkina O., Ginzler EM. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 5th edition, 2011. Chapter 56- Corticosteroid and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug use in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
• Ginzler EM, Dvorkina O. Dubois' Lupus Erythematosus, 7th edition, 2007. Chapter 45 - Infections in systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Brinton LA, Buckley LM, Dvorkina O, et al: Risk of connective tissue disorders among breast implant patients. Am J Epidemiol 2004; 160:619-627
• Ginzler EM, Dvorkina, O. Newer therapeutic approaches for systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 2005; 31:315-328
• Dvorkina O, Williams DC: Fibromyalgia and related syndromes. Primary Care Secrets, 3rd Edition, 2004.

Abstracts:

• Ko K1, Levine A, Griffin R, Dvorkina O, Sheikh S, Yazdany J, Furie R, Aranow. Baseline Predictors of Remission and Low Disease Activity Using Recently Defined International Criteria in a Multi-Center Lupus Registry Cohort. Abstract # 2938; presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, November 2015.
• Erkan D1, Criscione-Schreiber L, Dvorkina O, Dall'Era M, Liang L, Marder G, McMahon M, Sanchez-Guerrero J, Saxena A, Roubey R. Is there an association between Persistently High Positive Antiphospholipid Antibody Profile and Organ Damage Accrual in lupus patients? Abstract # 2014; presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, November 2014.
• Grossman J, Merrill J, Askanase A, Dvorkina O, Lockshin M, Aranow C. Predictors of Damage Accrual Over 2 year Period in a Large Multi-Racial/Ethnic Lupus Cohort. Abstract #2900; presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, October 2013
• Dvorkina O, Aranow C, Orloff K, Gerber D, Ginzler EM. SLE disease activity and flare rates in premenopausal women. Arthritis Rheum. 41:S66, 1998 (presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, Nov 1998)