Investigating Maternal Inflammatory Arthritis and Pregnancy Outcomes

Eugenia Chock, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine (rheumatology, allergy and immunology) at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), aims to help rheumatology patients and all women seeking to become pregnant by investigating maternal and offspring health outcomes in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis.

“Women with chronic inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondylarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, are at a twofold higher risk than the general population of having preterm births as well as babies who are smaller in size,” Chock said. “Preterm or smaller infants can have developmental delays, so the goal of our project is to identify why adverse pregnancy outcomes occur in these patients.”

Chock became interested in the intersection of rheumatology and obstetrics during her residency when she encountered the antiphospholipid syndrome. The condition, which frequently affects people with lupus, is a common cause of pregnancy loss. Many times, early pregnancy loss is the reason women with the syndrome first see a rheumatologist and become diagnosed with lupus, according to Chock.

Chock’s research project is supported by the Yale Physician-Scientist Development Awards, an initiative of the Office of Physician-Scientist and Scientist Development in partnership with the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation Scholar Awards. The awards provide grants to junior physician-scientists to conduct mentored research that will facilitate the development of independent research programs.

Since starting her two-year award term, Chock has received mentorship from senior clinical researchers at YSM and Yale School of Public Health, including David Felson, MD, MPH, professor adjunct of medicine (rheumatology, allergy and immunology); Lisa Suter, MD, professor of medicine (rheumatology, allergy and immunology); and Zeyan Liew, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of epidemiology (environmental health).

Chock views the project as instrumental in reaching her goal of launching a successful research career in this understudied area and improving the health of rheumatology patients with pregnancies.

“I have found that there are many reproductive issues among women with rheumatic diseases that need to be studied more deeply,” she said. “That is why I decided to become a physician-scientist.”

Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology is dedicated to providing care for patients with rheumatic, allergic and immunologic disorders; educating future generations of thought leaders in the field; and conducting research into fundamental questions of autoimmunity and immunology. To learn more, visit Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology.