Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Lindsey earned her PhD in neuroscience from Emory University in Atlanta, where she studied novel therapeutic strategies for treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy. She was awarded a fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society in 2019 for this research. Lindsey also previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher, studying the role of inflammation in epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.

Articles by Lindsey Shapiro

In EGPA, Fasenra outperforms Nucala at reducing steroid use

Fasenra (benralizumab), which is approved for a rare type of asthma, and Nucala (mepolizumab) were similarly effective at inducing remission in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), but more people on Fasenra were able to stop using oral corticosteroids (OCS), with fewer monthly injections. That’s according to final published…

Kidney involvement augurs worse ANCA-associated vasculitis outcome

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) that required dialysis or a kidney transplant was associated with an elevated risk of death among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), compared to patients who didn’t develop the complication, research indicates. A kidney transplant was associated with better prognosis compared to dialysis. On kidney biopsies,…

Dosing begins in Phase 2 trial for AAV and serious kidney disease

A first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 clinical trial testing lixudebart, Alentis Therapeutics‘ investigational antibody therapy, in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis (RPGN), a serious kidney disease. The study, RENAL-F02 (NCT06047171), currently is recruiting up to 60 adults with AAV…

Blood levels of SOD, an antioxidant enzyme, could mark AAV activity

Blood levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, are significantly lower in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) than those without this disease, and poorer outcomes are found in patients with greater reductions, a study reported. Specifically, lower blood SOD levels significantly associated with more inflammation, a greater likelihood…

AAV may emerge in rare cases after COVID-19 vaccination: Study

Among the 56 reported cases of new or relapsed ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, more than three-quarters achieved remission with prompt treatment, according to a recent review study. SARS-COV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. AAV after vaccination may be related to several different mechanisms, including inflammation,…