Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

Hypoparathyroidism after thyroid removal linked to kidney damage

Permanent hypoparathyroidism, which can occur when the parathyroid glands are accidentally removed along with the thyroid gland during a surgical procedure, increases the risk of kidney damage over time, according to a study by researchers in Hong Kong. “Careful patient selection and improvement in the identification and preservation of…

FDA approves hypoparathyroidism treatment Yorvipath

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ascendis Pharma’s Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide) as a parathyroid hormone replacement therapy for adults with hypoparathyroidism. The company expects to have the first supply ready in early 2025 after it completes manufacturing for the U.S. market. But if the FDA clears…

FDA delays decision on TransCon PTH for hypoparathyroidism

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is delaying by three months its decision to approve Ascendis Pharma’s TransCon PTH (palopegteriparatide) as a hormone replacement therapy for adults with hypoparathyroidism. The FDA decided not to approve the investigational therapy in April 2023 over concerns about its manufacturing…

Chronic Hypoparathryroidism Tied to Kidney Complications: Study

Patients with long-lasting hypoparathyroidism in Sweden are over three times more likely than healthy individuals to develop kidney complications such as chronic kidney disease and kidney stones, and this may translate into more frequent hospital admissions, a study found. The study, “Kidney Complications and Hospitalization in Patients with…

PTH Levels Help Predict Recovery 6 Months After Thyroid Surgery

Late recovery — longer than six months — from post-surgery hypoparathyroidism is not uncommon, and having levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) within the normal range may indicate whether patients are more likely to recover, a study found. “PTH is a useful biomarker in predicting long-term recovery of parathyroid function,”…