Link between autoimmune diseases, medications, and a dangerous heartbeat condition

Mohamed Boutjdir, PhD, professor of medicine, cell biology, and physiology and pharmacology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, has led a study with international collaborators identifying the mechanism by which patients with various autoimmune and connective tissue disorders may be at risk for life-threatening cardiac events if they take certain anti-histamine or anti-depressant medications. Dr. Boutjdir is also director of the Cardiac Research Program at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System.

The team established for the first time the molecular and functional mechanism by which adult patients with autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren