Disease-Modifying Therapies During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- 18 May 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers in International Journal of MS Care
- Vol. 22 (4), 151-157
- https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2020-037
Abstract
Background: Managing multiple sclerosis (MS) during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a challenge due to the lack of evidence from clinical studies. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) may affect the immune response and subsequently alter the risk of COVID-19 infections. Methods: A literature search was conducted on the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases. A focused Google search was also performed. Recommendations regarding the use of DMTs during the COVID-19 outbreak from national and international MS/neurology societies were identified and reviewed. Results: The review included 16 recommendations from international and national MS organizations. All recommendations are based on expert opinions. The recommendations regarding DMT initiation and management during this outbreak are summarized. Moreover, the experts’ views about the risk of COVID-19 infection with each DMT are discussed. Conclusions: There is significant agreement among most experts’ recommendations from a variety of sources based on collective clinical experience. However, the recommendations will likely evolve because sufficient clinical data are limited. Several ongoing registries will help provide information for future recommendations.Keywords
This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit:
- Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016Lancet Neurology, 2019
- Lymphopenia and DMTs for relapsing forms of MS Considerations for the treating neurologistNeurology Clinical Practice, 2019
- Cladribine Tablets: A Review in Relapsing MSCNS Drugs, 2018
- Monitoring B-cell repopulation after depletion therapy in neurologic patientsNeurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, 2018
- Disease-modifying therapies and infectious risks in multiple sclerosisNature Reviews Neurology, 2016
- Effects of dimethyl fumarate on lymphocyte subsetsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 2015
- Differential Reconstitution of T Cell Subsets following Immunodepleting Treatment with Alemtuzumab (Anti-CD52 Monoclonal Antibody) in Patients with Relapsing–Remitting Multiple SclerosisPublished by The American Association of Immunologists ,2013
- Mechanism of Action of Glatiramer Acetate in Treatment of Multiple SclerosisNeurotherapeutics, 2007
- Coronavirus as a possible cause of severe acute respiratory syndromeThe Lancet, 2003
- Coronavirus Infection in Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Disease of InfantsThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1974