Multiple Sclerosis is associated with an increased risk of infections. This increased risk is driven by the disability caused by MS and the disease modifying drugs (DMD) that are used to treat MS.
This teaching course is designed to inform the practitioner about infection risks with multiple sclerosis disease modifying drugs. The content will address the immune dysregulation occasioned by each class of DMTs and the anticipated infections occurring as a consequence, the current state of knowledge with respect to the observed risk of infection with each class of agent, and risk mitigation strategies. Various disease states will be described to improve the practitioner’s ability for early detection. Special attention will be afforded to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, cryptococcal meningitis, and infection risks with B cell depleting agents. Additionally, the effect of DMTs on COVID morbidity and mortality will also be discussed.
The participants will learn about infectious risks associated with different DMDs, how to diagnose them and how to mitigate these infectious risks.