Patricia Inacio, PhD, science writer —

Patricia holds her PhD in cell biology from the University Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, and has served as an author on several research projects and fellowships, as well as major grant applications for European agencies. She also served as a PhD student research assistant in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, New York, for which she was awarded a Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) fellowship.

Articles by Patricia Inacio

High-intensity Rehab in Hospital Linked to Delayed Recovery in Study

Contrary to increasing evidence, high-intensity inpatient rehabilitation was not found, in a Japanese study, to speed the recovery of people with myasthenia gravis (MG) who were intubated after a myasthenic crisis. Instead, according to researchers, “high-intensity rehabilitation was associated with delayed recovery in the ADL [activities of daily living],”…

Soliris Is Safe and Effective in Real-world Use, Small US Study Shows

Soliris (eculizumab) safely and rapidly led to clinical benefits in people with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive, according to data from a small real-world U.S. study. Moreover, most patients discontinued maintenance immunomodulatory treatment. The study, “Safety and outcomes of eculizumab for acetylcholine…

MG Symptoms Weigh on Life Quality, Particularly for Women

People with myasthenia gravis, particularly women, have a high symptom burden that considerably affects their health-related quality of life, but the disease’s human cost is rarely given adequate study, a systematic literature review has found. Symptoms generally eased following treatment and disease remission. Still, there is…

Opdivo May Trigger Myasthenia Gravis, Case Report Indicates

Treatment with the immunotherapy Opdivo (nivolumab) may, in rare cases, trigger myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a Japanese case report. The patient, a 55-year-old woman, developed severe MG, which required admission to the intensive care unit and prolonged mechanical ventilation. The recovery of her breathing function was successfully monitored by assessing…

Risk Factors for MG Exacerbations, Myasthenic Crises ID’d in Study

Disease severity at diagnosis and levels of self-reactive antibodies are independent risk factors for myasthenic crisis and disease exacerbations, a German study suggests. Close monitoring, particularly of infections, is important to prevent disease worsening in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), the researchers noted. The study, “Independent risk factors…

Case Report Shows MG May Occur With Rare Miller Fisher Syndrome

Myasthenia gravis (MG) may occur alongside Miller Fisher syndrome, another rare autoimmune disease also characterized by weakness of the eye muscles, a recent case report highlights. The report emphasizes the importance of careful examination for the possibility of co-occurring autoimmune disorders when a patient shows uncommon symptoms. “Even…

Ocular MG Progression Risk May Be Reduced With Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressant medications significantly reduced the risk of ocular myasthenia gravis (MG), which affects only eye and eyelid muscles, progressing to a generalized form of the disease that affects other muscles, a Chinese study suggests. These findings indicate that immunosuppressant medications should be considered early on in the treatment…