We study the cause of subglottic stenosis, a progressive narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords. The causes can be microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or hormonal influences.
Hi,
My name is Katarina Olofsson, and I am employed as a consultant in voice and speech disorders (phoniatrics) to 80% and as a clinical professor to 20% at Umeå University. There, I have the task of educating and developing activities at various levels. Through the combined position I get the privilege of being clinically active and section responsible for the patient group our research covers, it facilitates in patient-oriented clinical research.
Our research is about subglottic stenosis (SGS) and respiratory papilloma (RRP)
SGS is a progressive narrowing of the airway just below the vocal cords, with female predominance. Today there is no cure, the condition requires recurrent surgical treatment under general anaesthesia, 80% relapse within 3 years. On average, it takes >18 months for diagnosis and thus treatment because SGS is often confused with asthma. Including all variants of SGS, about 0.49/100 000 individuals/year are affected. The disease is relatively uncommon, but highly relevant from a healthcare cost perspective, reportedly comparable to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and diabetes. Not being able to breathe has a major impact on quality of life and functionality as a human being.
What I am working on now and in the future
We are working on mapping the impact on quality of life before and after surgery for subglottic stenosis (SGS), comparing different surgical methods and studying possible causes of SGS with a focus on female dominance. If we can address the cause, it will influence treatment. We want to contribute to preventive and health promotion efforts by identifying patients at risk for surgery, improving diagnostics and thus access to the right treatment. We try to map treatment intervals over the course of the disease. We have a collaboration with Lund associate professor Ola Forslund regarding respiratory papilloma (viral warts on the vocal cords) where we map microorganisms in the airway in different places and study antibody responses and cytokine profile to better understand the course of the disease and thus influence treatment which today, as in SGS, consists of repeated surgery. I am now the main supervisor of my 5th PhD student, recently completed half-time with planned defence in 2026. We are working to register a 6th PhD student in the subject area SGS and are seeking funds for it
Previlege
I have regional treatment responsibility for patients with subglottic stenosis (SGS) and respiratory papilloma (RRP). Both SGS and RRP require surgical treatment under general anesthesia sometimes several times/year most likely for life. The conditions cause progressive respiratory problems and hoarseness, thus documented major impact on quality of life in all aspects. Being able to assist with research is an incredible privilege. Among other things, our group has shown that the number of treatments for RRP can be reduced from 2/year to 0.8/year with additional vaccine treatment
A brief description of my academic career
Swedish medical license1992/11/02
Specialist ENT 1998/04/29
Specialist Foiatri 2001/11/27
Doctoral thesis 1999/10/01
Universitetsöverläkare 2015/02/01—2020/11/30
Associate Professor 2012/06/06
Lectureship, UmU 2020/12/01-----2021/12/31
Adjunct/clinical prof 2022/01/01---tv
Head of Section Phoniatry 2002/01/01 tv
Main supervisor for PhD students
In January 2021 Anders Erlandsson was registered as a PhD student “Airway stenosis - in relation to surgical technique, causation and impact on quality of life”. Mid-term report 2024-03-22
In November 2022, Alexandra Schindele defended her thesis “Human papilloma virus and Epstein-Barr-virus in upper airway mucosa
In May 2019, Anna Holm defended her thesis “Human papillomavirus in sino-nasal inverted papilloma, recurrent respiratory papilloma and non-malignant tonsils”.
In February 2017, Stina Sundstedt defended her thesis “Swallowing function in patients with Parkinson's disease and Deep Brain Stimulation”. Stina took a licentiate degree in April 2014
In October 2016 Christos Loizou defended his PhD thesis “Human papillomavirus in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, tonsillar and mobile tongue cancer”
Co-supervisors for PhD students
Eleonor Koro, registered PhD student in November 2019, mid-term report 2023
Elenor Lundgren, registered PhD student in September 202
I teach/supervise at the medical, speech therapy, and nursing programs as well as ST-education. Popular science ex Fråga doktorn 2018, we filmed a surgical treatment procedure for subglottic stenosis (SGS; a progressive constriction with potentially fatal outcome located about 1 cm below the vocal cords). I have lectured on subglottic stenosis at Vetenskapsluncher 2024. I publish in popular science - e.g. Sensk ÖNH tidskrift and Läkartidningen 1 times / year. d. I lecture nationally and internationally in my research area. Have assignments as opponent (4 latest June 2023), grading committee (4 latest March 2024) and half-time seminar, > 7.