Medical College of Wisconsin Rheumatology Research

One focus where we continue to make great strides is in understanding cartilage biology. Cartilage is certainly a crucial structure within the joints. Damage to the cartilage leads to loss of function and considerable discomfort. We continue to educate future generations of clinical rheumatologists and researchers in the arthritis arena.

Lupus research currently underway includes exciting collaborations with regional academic centers with a shared interest in lupus disparities, retention in care and medication adherence. Locally, a unique investigator-initiated pilot study has measured levels of apathy in a lupus cohort compared to healthy and diseased state control. We suspect apathy may be a central and potentially modifiable factor in medication non-adherence and may correlate with lupus disease activity. Additionally, the Lupus Clinic offers a setting for patient participation in industry sponsored clinical trials in systemic lupus erythematosus and specifically lupus nephritis.

MCW has a longstanding research program devoted to understanding clinical and pathophysiologic aspects of calcium crystal-associated arthritis. This program began in the 1970’s with ground-breaking studies of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD). The original physician-scientists who started this program were also responsible for the initial descriptions of basic calcium phosphate (BCP)-associated arthritis now known as Milwaukee Shoulder Syndrome.

The Rosenthal Laboratory has continued this important work. The laboratory is situated at the Zablocki VA Medical Center and has been federally funded since 1996. Dr. Rosenthal has focused most of her work on studies of calcium pyrophosphate crystal formation. She began by identifying mechanisms and modulators of pyrophosphate production by cartilage cells. More recently she has been using genetic abnormalities responsible for familial CPDD to study novel pathogenic mechanisms of crystal formation. These studies involve in-vitro experiments with bone and cartilage tissues, as well as work with novel mouse models. Dr. Rosenthal has also worked with data from the national VA Health Care system to characterize CPDD and its sequelae in the US veteran population. She collaborates with investigators at Washington University in St. Louis, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Her laboratory is well-staffed with expert research associates and has served as a training ground for numerous rheumatology fellows, residents, and medical students. Dr. Rosenthal is the author of over 100 papers, chapters and invited reviews and frequently speaks on CPDD at national and international meetings.