Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Lindsey earned her PhD in neuroscience from Emory University in Atlanta, where she studied novel therapeutic strategies for treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy. She was awarded a fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society in 2019 for this research. Lindsey also previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher, studying the role of inflammation in epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.

Articles by Lindsey Shapiro

Despite AIHA alloantibodies, transfusions generally safe, effective

Nearly 20% of people with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), including cold agglutinin disease (CAD), who required blood transfusions developed antibodies against proteins in donor blood that could compromise a transfusion’s safety or effectiveness, a study shows. These antibodies, called alloantibodies, were associated with a higher transfusion burden, lower…

Real-world analysis examines rituximab use in CAD

Treatment with rituximab led to improvements in biomarkers of red blood cell destruction among people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), but the  improvements often were short-lived and reversible, according to a real-world analysis in the U.S. The therapy, which often is used off-label for the rare autoimmune disease, also…

CAD and cryoglobulinemia often co-exist, report suggests

Among people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), more than half were found to have a related autoimmune disorder called cryoglobulinemia, which affected symptom presentation but did not appear to affect survival. That’s according to a small study in which 59% of CAD patients tested positive for cryoglobulins, the…

Life quality gains with Enjaymo sustained for 2.5 years

Long-term treatment with Enjaymo (sutimlimab-jome) led to sustained improvements in life quality and reductions in fatigue for people with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), according to 2.5 years of data from the Phase 3 CARDINAL clinical trial. “[Enjaymo] provides sustained and durable treatment benefits in chronic CAD, including a…

CAD symptoms, daily impacts recorded in new patient assessment

Researchers have developed a new patient-reported outcome questionnaire to assess symptoms and the impacts to daily life associated with cold agglutinin disease (CAD). Called the CAD-Symptoms and Impact Questionnaire (CAD-SIQ), it was developed by analyzing responses from patient interviews. Reactions to cold environments and fatigue were the most commonly…

No gains in transfusion efficacy with C1-INH treatment for CAD

A treatment to reduce the activation of the immune complement system didn’t increase the effectiveness of red blood cell transfusions in people with severe cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and other complement-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia (CM-AIHA). That’s according to a small, proof-of-concept Phase 2 clinical trial (EudraCT2012-003710-13) that found…