Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

IFN-gamma protein levels at MPA onset may predict relapses

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) patients with high blood levels of the inflammatory protein interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) at the onset of their disease are significantly more likely to have relapses despite treatment, a small study in Japan shows. The findings suggest IFN-gamma may serve as a biomarker to predict relapses in MPA,…

Fasenra, Nucala equally effective, safe in EGPA: Real-world study

Fasenra (benralizumab) and Nucala (mepolizumab) appear to be equally safe and effective in helping adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) achieve disease remission, according to a real-world study in Europe that directly compared the two approved therapies. Still, at one year, AstraZeneca’s Fasenra was associated with…

ANCA test may help tell MPA from GPA, study shows

Testing for the presence of specific self-reactive antibodies linked to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may help doctors more easily tell microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) from granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the two most common types of AAV, a study showed. Classifying patients as MPA or GPA based on the different types…

Long-term Nucala found well tolerated as EGPA treatment: Data

Long-term treatment with Nucala (mepolizumab) — approved for use in EGPA, or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, the rarest type of ANCA-associated vasculitis — appears to be well tolerated by most patients, and was seen to reduce or even eliminate corticosteroid use. That’s according to new data from an…