Maria Isabel Leite
Senior Clinical Research Fellow
- Honorary Consultant Neurologist
Autoimmune neurology, malignancy and infections
I am a senior clinical research fellow and honorary consultant neurologist with clinical and laboratory experiences in the field of autoantibody mediated diseases of the nervous system. In particular, my focus is on patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) associated with AQP4 antibodies, MOG antibody-mediated demyelinating disease, autoimmune encephalitis (AE) associated with antibodies to NMDA-receptor, Lgi1, Caspr2 or GABA-receptors, Glycine receptor antibody mediated syndromes, particularly PERM, and myasthenia gravis (MG) associated with AChR or MuSK antibodies.
My work includes identification of antibody associated disease phenotypes, the clinical response to treatments, and outcome correlates. I have a specific interest in the understanding the interaction between pregnancy, antibody mediated diseases and treatments in order to improve patient care. In addition I am trying to understand how autoimmunization occurs in our patients and the biological relationship between autoimmune diseases that can occur in individuals (e.g. MG and NMO).
I aim to dedicate more clinical and research time to antibody mediated neuroimmunology in older adults (e.g. ≥ 60 years of age). These diseases affect older people who often have co-morbidities, they can be difficult to diagnose and are more challenging to treat because of the lack of research on the effect of immunosuppressive agents on older people and the complications associated with a declining immune system.
Recent publications
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Cohort profile: a collaborative multicentre study of retinal optical coherence tomography in 539 patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (CROCTINO).
Journal article
Specovius S. et al, (2020), BMJ Open, 10
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A challenging case of hypercapnic respiratory failure during pregnancy
Journal article
Vijayakumar B. et al, (2020), Obstetric Medicine, 1753495X2094470 - 1753495X2094470
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A clinico-neurophysiological study of urogenital dysfunction in MOG-antibody transverse myelitis.
Journal article
Li V. et al, (2020), Neurology
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Seasonal distribution of attacks in aquaporin-4 antibody disease and myelin-oligodendrocyte antibody disease.
Journal article
Dos Passos GR. et al, (2020), J Neurol Sci, 415
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State of the Art and Future Challenges in Multiple Sclerosis Research and Medical Management: An Insight into the 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis.
Journal article
Sá MJ. et al, (2020), Neurol Ther