Maria Isabel Leite
Associate Professor
- 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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Safety and efficacy of zilucoplan in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (RAISE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study
Journal article
Howard JF. et al, (2023), The Lancet Neurology, 22, 395 - 406
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Diagnostic value of intereye difference metrics for optic neuritis in aquaporin-4 antibody seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.
Conference paper
Oertel FC. et al, (2023), J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
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Reply to the Letter to the Editor in response to "Autoantibody levels as biomarkers of disease activity in management of myasthenia gravis: A systematic review and expert appraisal".
Journal article
Meisel A. et al, (2023), Eur J Neurol
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The Acute Optic Neuritis Network (ACON): Study protocol of a non-interventional prospective multicenter study on diagnosis and treatment of acute optic neuritis.
Journal article
Asseyer S. et al, (2023), Front Neurol, 14
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Anterior optic pathway pathology in CNS demyelinating diseases
Conference paper
Pisa M. et al, (2022), Brain, 145, 4308 - 4319