Sharon Abada, MD, MPH

All Publications

• Innate and Adaptive Immune Mechanisms in Pericarditis: Pathobiology and Clinical Implications. The Canadian journal of cardiology Zhang, C., Abada, S., Tasca, S., Moslehi, J. J., Baik, A. H. 2026; 42 (8): 1872-1888

  Abstract

  Pericarditis is an inflammatory disorder of the pericardium with a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from a single acute episode to recurrent, incessant, or chronic disease. Although most cases are idiopathic and self-limited, a subset of patients develop relapsing or treatment-resistant pericarditis marked by persistent inflammation, tissue remodelling, and, in severe cases, constrictive physiology. These clinical phenotypes support a model where pericarditis represents a spectrum of immune-mediated disease. In this review, we integrate clinical classification with emerging insights into innate and adaptive immunity to bridge pericarditis immunopathology with clinical presentation. Acute idiopathic pericarditis is commonly initiated by innate danger sensing through pattern-recognition receptors, triggering nuclear factor κB activation, NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, and interleukin (IL) 1α/1β driven inflammation. In recurrent disease, sustained activation of these pathways can establish self-amplifying inflammatory circuits involving IL-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and JAK/STAT signalling, promoting leukocyte recruitment and fibroblast activation. Emerging clinical and serologic evidence further suggests that adaptive immune mechanisms contribute to disease persistence. These observations highlight that recurrent pericarditis exists along a continuum from predominantly autoinflammatory to mixed autoinflammatory and autoimmune disease. Insights from preclinical models, including viral, sterile inflammasome driven, cytokine-mediated, and autoimmune models, have validated these pathways and clarified mechanisms of pericarditis and its complications. This mechanistic understanding has strengthened the biological rationale underlying current therapeutic approaches. IL-1 inhibition has emerged as a paradigm-shifting treatment for recurrent pericarditis, whereas IL-6 blockade, JAK inhibition, and broader immunosuppression may benefit selected phenotypes. Future research should focus on defining immune endotypes, identifying predictive biomarkers, and aligning targeted therapies with the dominant inflammatory drivers.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cjca.2026.04.017

  View details for PubMedID 42055116

• Early Strawberry Gingivitis in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis. Journal of general internal medicine Abada, S., Margaretten, M. E. 2026; 41 (7): 1996-1997

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11606-026-10256-2

  View details for PubMedID 41688626

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC13176398

• Recombinant Zoster Vaccination Among US Veterans Receiving Immunosuppressive Medications. JAMA network open Abada, S., Li, J., Tarasovsky, G., Wilson, C., Yazdany, J., Whooley, M. A., Schmajuk, G. 2024; 7 (10): e2439945

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.39945

  View details for PubMedID 39392634

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11581597

• Student Response Initiatives: A Case Study of COVID-19 at Washington University MEDICAL SCIENCE EDUCATOR Chermside-Scabbo, C. J., Douglas, K., Ghaznavi, C., Pollard, B., Abada, S., Goodman, J., Migotsky, N., Park, K., Sherburne, H., Coolman, A., Aagaard, E. M., Lawrence, S. J. 2021; 31 (2): 365-369

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40670-021-01225-x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000649467800017

• Medication Regimen Complexity and Low Adherence in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Substantiated Self-Neglect. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society Abada, S., Clark, L. E., Sinha, A. K., Xia, R., Pace-Murphy, K., Flores, R. J., Burnett, J. 2017: 733464817714565

  Abstract

  Determine whether medication regimen complexity predicts medication adherence levels in a sample of community-dwelling adults 65 years and older with Adult Protective Services-substantiated self-neglect.A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data ( N = 31 participants) from a pilot intervention to increase medication adherence among the target group was performed. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8)™ were the primary independent and dependent measures, respectively. A multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders, was conducted to estimate the association between complexity and adherence.Regimen complexity was high (mean MRCI = 19.6) and adherence was low (mean MMAS = 5.1). Even after controlling for confounders, increased complexity was significantly associated with lower adherence.Older community-dwelling adults who self-neglect have complex medication regimens that contribute to low medication adherence. Medication regimen complexity may be a modifiable contributor to low adherence that can be targeted by future interventions to reduce self-neglect and its consequences.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/0733464817714565

  View details for PubMedID 28645225

• Assessment of older adults' satisfaction with adult protective services investigation and assistance. Journal of elder abuse & neglect Booker, J. G., Breaux, M., Abada, S., Xia, R., Burnett, J. 2017; 30 (1): 64-74

  Abstract

  This study examined elder self-neglect client satisfaction with services provided by an Adult Protective Services (APS) program. A total of 77 community-dwelling older adults with APS-substantiated self-neglect responded to the standardized and widely used 8-item Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Approximately 75% of the participants reported being satisfied with the overall services. They felt that the services provided were responsive to their need(s) and helped them deal with their problem(s). Greater than 80% responded that they would refer a friend, would utilize APS in the future if necessary, and were at least satisfied with the amount of help received. The extent to which their needs were met received the lowest satisfaction scores. Future studies are needed to examine elder self-neglect client satisfaction in relation to specific services.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/08946566.2017.1329045

  View details for PubMedID 28498035

• Medication use and polypharmacy in older adults with substantiated self-neglect: A case study Self-Neglect in Older Adults: A Global, Evidence-Based Resource for Nurses and Other Healthcare Providers Burnett, J., Clark, L. E., Abada, S., Parker, K., Flores, R. J., Murphy, K. P. 2017
• Stroke Knowledge in African Americans: A Narrative Review. Ethnicity & disease Sharrief, A. Z., Johnson, B., Abada, S., Urrutia, V. C. 2016; 26 (2): 255-62

  Abstract

  The purpose of this review is to evaluate the state of knowledge in regard to stroke literacy in African Americans. This topic is important for assessing the specific gaps in stroke knowledge for this population, as well as to evaluate the methodology that has been used to assess stroke literacy.This narrative review includes studies that evaluated and reported stroke knowledge in African Americans and were published between January 2000 and October 2015.Our review revealed that disparities may exist in recognition of headache and visual symptoms, knowledge of the organ in which stroke occurs, and identification of tobacco use as a risk factor. Stress may be perceived as a more important risk factor among African Americans than among White Americans. The literature does not suggest disparities in knowledge of the appropriate action to take for stroke.Racial disparities may exist for specific domains of stroke knowledge. Future studies should explore specific gaps in knowledge to be addressed in stroke prevention interventions for African Americans. Standardization of methods is needed to aid comparisons across populations. The relationship between stroke knowledge and clinical outcomes also needs to be evaluated.

  View details for DOI 10.18865/ed.26.2.255

  View details for PubMedID 27103777

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4836907