José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

José holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Porto, Portugal. After postdocs at Weill Connell Medicine and Western University, where he studied the processes driving hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, he moved on in 2016 to a career in science writing and communication. José is the author of several peer-reviewed papers and a book chapter and has presented his research in numerous international meetings.

Articles by José Lopes

Rituxan Better at Maintaining Long-term Remission in AAV Patients in Clinical Trial

Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who receive Rituxan (rituximab) infusions for maintaining sustained remission fare better in the long term than those receiving the immunosuppressant azathioprine, according to French researchers. Fewer patients who received Rituxan as remission-maintenance therapy experienced a relapse during a 60-month (five-year) follow-up. Researchers found that survival…

Long-term Rituxan Combo Therapy Improves Outcomes of Patients with Renal AAV, Study Shows

A combination treatment with Rituxan (rituximab), low-dose cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and tapered corticosteroids induces significant disease remission and reduces risk of relapse in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) with renal symptoms, U.K. researchers found. The study, “Long-term follow-up of a combined rituximab and cyclophosphamide regimen in…

Questionnaire Created to Assess Patient-reported Impact of AAV on Quality of Life

Researchers developed a new questionnaire that assesses a patient’s perspective on how anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, or AAV, impacts health-related quality of life. While the questionnaire should be shorter and validity testing is needed, this patient-reported measure has already helped clinicians understand which health-related outcomes matter most to…

Patient with GPA and Ocular Symptoms Successfully Treated with Rituximab in Case Report

A case report of a patient with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) along with ocular involvement suggests that Rituxan (rituximab) might be successful for people who don’t respond to prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. The study, “Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis Associated with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Emerging Despite Cyclophosphamide, Successfully Treated with Rituximab,”…

Rituxan Effective in Keeping ANCA Vasculitis at Bay, Saudi Study Shows

Rituxan (rituximab) effectively induces and maintains remission in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new Saudi study shows. The study, “Systematic review of the role of rituximab in treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis, hepatitis C virus-related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, ankylosing spondylitis, and…