Author Of 3 Presentations
LB1262 - Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in People with Multiple Sclerosis Residing in Massachusetts (ID 2159)
- E. Klawiter
- J. Smith
- K. Brewer
- K. Stockel
- S. Fischinger
- C. Luedemann
- H. Bien
- A. Russo
- A. Vaeth
- R. Bakshi
- S. Bhattacharyya
- A. Cabot
- I. George
- R. Gillani
- M. Hickey
- M. Houtchens
- T. Bockow Kaplan
- D. Kimbrough
- I. Kister
- F. Mateen
- M. Matiello
- C. Severson
- T. Singhal
- J. Stankiewicz
- L. Stazzone
- H. Weiner
- J. Zurawski
- A. Eloyan
- T. Chitnis
- G. Alter
Abstract
Background
Seroepidemiology is an important tool to characterize the epidemiology and immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2. Most people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are treated with immunomodulators or immunosuppressants, so it is crucial to understand the immune response to the novel SARS-CoV-2 in people with MS.
Objectives
To investigate the prevalence and persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in MS and how this relates to MS phenotype and treatment.
Methods
227 consecutive people with MS residing in MA and receiving care at Massachusetts General Hospital or Brigham and Women’s Hospital and 143 of their cohabitants were enrolled May 29-July 23, 2020. In addition, 8 people with MS receiving care elsewhere who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nasal swab PCR and 7 cohabitants of that group were enrolled to enrich the sample for select analyses. Each participant remotely submitted a dried blood card for in-house MGH SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA assay testing. The assay displays 99.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity >14 days from symptom onset. Participants completed a REDCap questionnaire covering demographics, MS history and treatments, comorbidities, and COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. Antibody prevalence in MS participants will be compared to that in their cohabitants using Pearson’s Chi-squared tests.
Results
The majority of MS participants were characterized as relapsing/remitting (76.8%) and were taking disease modifying therapies (72.6%) at the time of collection. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 3.5% of people with MS residing in MA and 6.3% of their cohabitants (X2=1.54, p=0.22). For comparison, ~1.5% of the MA population had tested positive by PCR in this date range. Exposure and treatment data will be presented in 13 cases of antibody discordance between the person with MS and his/her cohabitant; the person with MS was antibody-negative in 10 cases and antibody-positive in 3 cases with discordance. In total there were 6 MS participants and no cohabitants who previously tested positive by nasal swab PCR but lacked antibodies at follow-up. Of the COVID-positive participants (by PCR or antibody), 54.5% (6 of 11) of MS and 88.9% (8 of 9) of cohabitants were asymptomatic (p=0.16).
Conclusions
Antibody prevalence was low overall in people with MS residing in MA. Discordance between MS participants and their cohabitants and lack of detectable antibodies in some people with MS with prior nasal swab PCR positivity suggest SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may be less persistent in people with MS.
P1117 - Clinical and radiologic disease activity in pregnancy and postpartum in multiple sclerosis (ID 1930)
Abstract
Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) typically begins between the ages of 20 to 40 years and has a female to male ratio of 3:1. As such, MS is primarily diagnosed in women of reproductive age. Several studies have demonstrated that women experience fewer MS relapses during the immunotolerant state of pregnancy; however, an increase in relapses has been observed postpartum. As clinical inflammatory activity postpartum could be confused with other common neurological conditions, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects new inflammatory lesions objectively. No large case series of MRI-defined postpartum inflammatory activity have been published, to our knowledge.
Objectives
To evaluate clinical and radiological inflammatory activity in women with multiple sclerosis during pregnancy and postpartum.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected clinical and MRI reports for women who became pregnant while followed at the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center between 2005 and 2018. Annualized relapse rate (ARR) and proportion of brain MRIs with new T2-hyperintense or gadolinium enhancing (Gd+) lesions were compared before, during and after pregnancy.
Results
We identified 155 pregnancies in 119 women (median EDSS 2.0). For the 146 live birth pregnancies, pre-pregnancy ARR was 0.33; ARR decreased during pregnancy, particularly the third trimester (ARR 0.10, p=0.017) and increased in the three months postpartum (ARR 0.61, p=0.012); 16.5% of women experienced a clinically meaningful increase in EDSS. Among 70 pregnancies with paired brain MRIs available, 52.5% had new T2 and/or Gd+ lesions postpartum compared to 32.2% pre-pregnancy (P=0.023). Postpartum clinical relapses were associated with Gd+ lesions (p<0.0001). However, for patients without postpartum relapses, surveillance brain MRIs revealed new T2 and/or Gd+ lesions in 30.9%. Protective effects of exclusive breastfeeding for ≥3 months (odds ratio (OR)=0.20, 95% CI 0.047-0.82) and early initiation of MS therapy (OR=0.28, 0.080-0.98) were observed for relapses.
Conclusions
We confirm prior reports of decreased relapse rate during pregnancy and increased rate in the three months postpartum. We report a significant association between this clinical activity and inflammation on MRI, as well as postpartum radiologic activity even in the absence of relapses. Both clinical and radiologic reassessment may inform optimal treatment decision-making during the high-risk early postpartum period.
P1135 - Risk factors for peripartum depression in women with multiple sclerosis (ID 1419)
Abstract
Background
Peripartum depression (PPD), i.e. depression in late pregnancy to 1 year postpartum, occurs in 7-19% of women. There are limited data on PPD in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objectives
To evaluate the prevalence of PPD in women with MS, and to evaluate risk factors for PPD in MS, both factors associated with PPD in the general population, as well as disease-related factors.
Methods
We performed retrospective analysis of prospectively collected clinical data. Women with MS followed at UCSF MS Center who became pregnant from 2015-2018 were identified in the electronic medical record. The primary outcome was PPD determined by clinical record review. Prevalence of PPD was estimated with logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE), accounting for women with multiple pregnancies. Univariable analyses with GEE logistic regression evaluated predictors of PPD (age, marital status, parity, delivery season, prematurity, birth weight, delivery mode, premorbid depression/anxiety, antidepressant discontinuation, sleep disturbance, breastfeeding). Factors significant in univariable analyses were included in multivariable analysis. GEE logistic regression evaluated association between inflammatory disease activity (relapses in pregnancy/postpartum; gadolinium enhancing lesions postpartum), disease severity (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS) and PPD.
Results
We identified 143 pregnancies (age 33.1+/-4.7 years; 93% relapsing remitting MS, 7% clinically isolated syndrome; 45% premorbid depression) in 111 women who had live birth outcomes and known PPD status. PPD was present in 12.6% (95% CI 7.3-17.8) of pregnancies. In univariable analyses, statistically significant factors associated with PPD included older age (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.32 for 1-year increase), primiparity (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.14-14.23), premorbid depression (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.27-10.01), postpartum sleep disturbance (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.17-8.91) and breastfeeding difficulty (OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.27-10.08). Maternal age (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.34), primiparity (OR 8.10, 95% CI 1.38-47.40) and premorbid depression (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.04-14.60) remained associated with PPD in multivariable analyses. Relapses, MRI activity and EDSS were not associated with PPD.
Conclusions
PPD in MS was similar to the general population, but was likely underestimated due to lack of standardized screening. PPD could influence maternal self-management of MS. Prospective evaluation with screening for PPD is needed.