La Princesa Hospital
Preventive Medicine

Author Of 1 Presentation

Clinical Outcome Measures Poster Presentation

P0025 - Analysis fo the results of the establishment of a SARS-CoV-2 safety protocol for Multiple Sclerosis patients  (ID 1512)

Speakers
Presentation Number
P0025
Presentation Topic
Clinical Outcome Measures

Abstract

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread worlwide becoming a pandemic never before seen. Immunosuppressive (IS) treatments used in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients could activate the infection in asymptomatic carriers or reactivate COVID-19 in apparently recovered cases. Our similar experience in some MS patients during the pandemic lead us to design a safety protocol at our MS Unit. It was based on epidemiological data and testing for PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs and serology before administration of monoclonal antibodies, doses of pulsed disease modifying therapies (DMTs), new starts of oral DMTs and methylprednisolone pulses.

Objectives

To describe our experience in the establishment of a SARS-CoV-2 safety protocol in MS patients. We analyze its utility to prevent COVID-19 complications

Methods

Observational, prospective and clinical practice study in the establishment of a multidisciplinary safety protocol (MS Unit – Neurology/Microbiology/Preventive Medicine). Sequential protocol over time adapted to the different pandemic phases and levels of available resources.

Results

152 PCR and 140 serology tests were performed in 90 patients over 3 months. They were performed preceding the treatment with Natalizumab (96 tests), Ocrelizumab (36 tests), Rituximab (3 tests), Methylprednisolone (7 tests), Cladribine (4 tests) and Dimethyl Fumarate (3 tests). 7 asymptomatic carriers were diagnosed (7,8%), 5 of them with positive IgM+IgG serology (5,6%). 5 patients with positive IgM+IgG serology post-infection were confirmed. No COVID-19 reactivation was detected after the establishment of the protocol.

Conclusions

The combined analysis of PCR and serology increased the sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis during the pandemic peak of cases phase. However, this does not happen at pandemic phases with less daily cases, when testing PCR alone detected the same number of cases than testing combined PCR and serology. The safety protocol reaches its objective of avoiding disease reactivation and clinical activation in asymptomatic carriers.

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