Andrea Lobo,  —

Andrea Lobo is a Science writer at BioNews. She holds a Biology degree and a PhD in Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. She was a postdoctoral and senior researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health in Porto, in drug addiction, studying neuronal plasticity induced by amphetamines. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals. She shifted towards a career in science writing and communication in 2022.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

‘Hot Line,’ other patient initiatives mark MGFA annual conference

The 2024 National Patient Conference by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) brought together more than 400 members of the myasthenia gravis (MG) community this week to educate participants about how to better manage their disease and raise awareness about treatments and clinical studies. “We are so…

Unusual symptoms of ocular MG in young girl ease after treatment

A young girl who showed unusual symptoms of ocular myasthenia gravis — persistent upper eyelid droopiness and outward deviation of the right eye — saw her symptoms ease after she received standard treatment, a case report shows. “This case emphasizes the diverse presentation of MG in ophthalmology, with ocular…

Rescue therapy use can reduce myasthenic crisis deaths: Scientists

Timely rescue therapy use during a myasthenic crisis — a life-threatening complication of myasthenia gravis (MG) marked by severe breathing problems — can reduce mortality among patients. That’s according to new findings from researchers in China, who investigated risk factors associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, which is commonly…

Dropped head syndrome linked to rare MG with anti-MuSK antibodies

A 64-year-old woman with dropped head syndrome was found to have a form of myasthenia gravis (MG) associated with the presence of antibodies against a protein called muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) and axial myopathy, a condition where muscles that protect the spine become weak. Previous studies have reported axial myopathy…

Switching from plasma exchange to Vyvgart well tolerated, effective

Switching from maintenance therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to Vyvgart (efgartigimod) appeared to be well tolerated and effective for people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a short report suggests. “The good clinical response of this patient cohort, together with greater accessibility and convenience of infusion-based therapy, are notable advantages…

MG flares affect sizable number of patients in US, despite treatment

Despite treatment, people with myasthenia gravis (MG) in the U.S. continue to experience exacerbations — episodes of disease worsening that may require urgent treatment and hospitalization — that carry high clinical and economic costs. That’s according to a large retrospective analysis of claims data for patients with employer-based commercial…

Serum fibrinogen may be a universal biomarker for MG: Study

High levels of serum fibrinogen were found to be a sensitive and specific biomarker to identify people with myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a recent study. Fibrinogen is a plasma protein that participates in blood clotting and is usually not present in the serum. In MG patients, residual fibrinogen…

Vyvgart now approved in Canada for adults with AChR-related gMG

Health Canada has approved Vyvgart (efgartigimod alfa-fcab) to treat adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are positive for antibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), the most common target of MG-causing antibodies. The approval is based on positive data from the Phase 3 ADAPT clinical trial (NCT03669588),…