Biography
Arsène Mekinian is Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology at Sorbonne Université and Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP), Paris. His work focuses on systemic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, VEXAS syndrome, inflammatory manifestations of myeloid malignancies, and reproductive immunology.
He is first author of the American College of Rheumatology guidance statement on VEXAS syndrome (2026), co-founder of the French VEXAS study group (FRENVEX) and founder of the MINHEMON network. He directs the university diploma in reproductive immunology at Sorbonne Université and coordinates national registries and clinical trials. He chairs the NGO Santé Arménie.
Training
- 1994-2003 — Medical studies, Université Paris-V Descartes
- 2003-2008 — Residency in internal medicine, Lille University Hospital
- 2008 — Specialty degree in internal medicine, Université Lille-2
- 2008-2009 — Master's degree, biology and innovative therapies of major functions, Université Paris-Saclay
- 2009 — Subspecialty degree in allergy and clinical immunology, Université Paris-Diderot
- 2017 — PhD in immunology, Université Paris-XIII: regulatory B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with autoimmune manifestations
- Inter-university diplomas in renal and systemic diseases, and in the pulmonary, dermatological and articular manifestations of systemic diseases
Appointments
- 2009-2012 — Chef de clinique, department of internal medicine (Prof. Olivier Fain), Jean-Verdier Hospital (AP-HP), Bondy
- 2014-2019 — Associate professor (MCU-PH), department of internal medicine and clinical immunology, Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP)
- Since 2019 — Professor (PU-PH), department of internal medicine and clinical immunology, Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université
- Since 2015 — Systemic sclerosis subunit, Saint-Antoine Research Centre, Inserm UMR_S 938
- Since August 2020 — Immuno-haematology and VEXAS group, Institut Imagine
- Since 2024 — Director, university diploma in reproductive immunology, Sorbonne Université
Societies, networks and responsibilities
- Since 2008 — Member, French National Society of Internal Medicine (SNFMI)
- Since 2014 — Member, French group on pregnancy and internal medicine (GR2)
- 2016 — Founder and chair, MINHEMON network
- Since 2016 — Member of the scientific council, Club Rhumatismes et Inflammations (CRI)
- Member, FAI²R rare-disease network
- 2020 — Co-founder and coordinator, FRENVEX
- 2020 — Founder and chair, Santé Arménie
- Board member, Francophone systemic sclerosis research group (GFRS), re-elected 2025
- 2026 — First author, American College of Rheumatology guidance statement on VEXAS syndrome
Clinical trials and studies
Principal investigator or scientific lead. FaCIL-2 (low-dose interleukin-2 and regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent early miscarriage); CERTIFY, PHRC 2022 (certolizumab versus placebo in implantation failure); FALCO, national multicentre registry of recurrent miscarriage; HYDROSAPL, interregional PHRC 2017 (hydroxychloroquine in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome, phase II randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial); TOCITAKA (first-line tocilizumab in Takayasu arteritis); AZA-SAID (azacitidine in immune manifestations of myelodysplastic syndromes, with the Groupe francophone des myélodysplasies); TRANSREG scleroderma (low-dose interleukin-2 in systemic sclerosis); HORTOTOCI (tocilizumab in ophthalmological complications of giant cell arteritis).
Co-investigator. STATVAS, CHUSPAN2 and SYMPTOMES (national PHRC); ETAP (tocilizumab in primary Sjögren's syndrome, national PHRC); SEDUCE (sildenafil in digital ulcers of systemic sclerosis); RIPS (international scleroderma network); GENPLUS and GENIAL (genetics of familial lupus); SMS (cohort of unexplained splenomegaly); rituximab and belimumab in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Supervision
- Two PhD theses supervised (Laure Ricard, Pauline Beurier)
- Five master's students
- More than fifteen medical theses
Institutional responsibilities
- 2016-2019 — Elected MCU-PH representative, medical establishment commission (CME)
- 2017-2019 — Member of the board, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (Prof. Jean Chambaz's Réunis team)
- 2017-2019 — Member of the PU-PH and MCU-PH staffing commission
- Coordination of DFASM3 lectures and SIDES lead for internal medicine, Saint-Antoine Hospital
Meetings
Presentations every year at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), EULAR and SNFMI congresses; regular contributions to the French Society of Rheumatology, EBMT and pregnancy-focused society meetings.
Languages
French, Armenian, English, Russian.