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Selecting a safe disease modifying therapy (DMT) during the COVID-19 is perplexing. This analytical case series study was aimed to find the incidence rate and progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MS or NMOSD who used rituximab therapy.
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis
spectrum disorders (NMOSD) who used rituximab therapy may be more prone to
COVID-19 infection and consequently, critical illness and mortality.
Selecting a safe
disease modifying therapy (DMT) during the COVID-19 is perplexing. This
analytical case series study was aimed to find the incidence rate and
progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MS or NMOSD who used rituximab therapy.
The patient-reported walking disability, total rituximab injections used, postponed injections, rate of any relapse, and corticosteroids use during the pandemic was recorded in a web-based questionnaire. The data about the COVID-19 pandemic like adherence to self-isolation, any new exposure to an infected person, and the occurrence of indicative symptoms were also gathered.
Recruited subjects were divided into two groups; mild
to moderate
and critically ill in case of positive test results. The outcomes were assessed as favorable (better/discharged) and
unfavorable (deceased).
Two hundred fifty-eight MS or NMOSD patients were enrolled in this study. Out of which, 9 (3.4%) were coronavirus-positive, 5 needed hospitalizations (55.5%), 2 patients needed critical care unit admission (22.2%) and 2 patients deceased (22.2%).
None of the patients ever used corticosteroids. A
greater occurrence of coronavirus infection, raised ratio of serious illness
and fatality ratio was found in comparison to MS patients who did not receive
DMT.
The use of rituximab seems not to be a safe
treatment option in MS
or NMOSD patients during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
BMC Neurology
Rituximab and risk of COVID-19 infection and its severity in patients with MS and NMOSD
Sara Esmaeili et al.
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