Author Of 1 Presentation
LB1235 - Frequency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and COVID-19 severity in a cohort of Italian multiple sclerosis patients on DMTs inhibiting immune cell trafficking (ID 2116)
Abstract
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is provoking major concerns among physicians and people living with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) undergoing disease modifying treatments (DMT). As per today, we do not know what is the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pwMS and undergoing treatment with DMTs inhibiting immune cell trafficking that are natalizumab (NTZ) and fingolimod (FTY), and vice versa what may be the effects of these drugs on the infection and related disease.
Objectives
To investigate the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and to report COVID-19 severity in pwMS on NTZ and FTY affiliated to the MS Centre of IRCCS Mondino, Pavia, Lombardy, Italy.
Methods
Roche SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay (Elecsys®) was used to test serum samples from 106 pwMS (51 treated with NTZ and 55 with FTY). COVID-19 severity was assessed via a 7-point ordinal scale.
Results
Among our cohort of pwMS on NTZ or FTY, the frequency of antibody anti-SARS-CoV-2 was 15%.
Half of seropositive cases were asymptomatic; and half of symptomatic seropositive cases were pauci symptomatic. About 35% of our cohort of pwMS reported COVID-19 symptoms, none of them required hospitalization or die due COVID-19.
Conclusions
Despite we found a high frequency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in our cohort of pwMS, half of seropositive cases were asymptomatic. None of symptomatic cases had a severe COVID-19 course. DMTs inhibiting immune cell trafficking seem to be safe in our cohort of pwMS and may be considered as a therapeutical option for highly active MS during COVID-19 pandemic.
Presenter Of 1 Presentation
LB1235 - Frequency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and COVID-19 severity in a cohort of Italian multiple sclerosis patients on DMTs inhibiting immune cell trafficking (ID 2116)
Abstract
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is provoking major concerns among physicians and people living with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) undergoing disease modifying treatments (DMT). As per today, we do not know what is the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pwMS and undergoing treatment with DMTs inhibiting immune cell trafficking that are natalizumab (NTZ) and fingolimod (FTY), and vice versa what may be the effects of these drugs on the infection and related disease.
Objectives
To investigate the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and to report COVID-19 severity in pwMS on NTZ and FTY affiliated to the MS Centre of IRCCS Mondino, Pavia, Lombardy, Italy.
Methods
Roche SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay (Elecsys®) was used to test serum samples from 106 pwMS (51 treated with NTZ and 55 with FTY). COVID-19 severity was assessed via a 7-point ordinal scale.
Results
Among our cohort of pwMS on NTZ or FTY, the frequency of antibody anti-SARS-CoV-2 was 15%.
Half of seropositive cases were asymptomatic; and half of symptomatic seropositive cases were pauci symptomatic. About 35% of our cohort of pwMS reported COVID-19 symptoms, none of them required hospitalization or die due COVID-19.
Conclusions
Despite we found a high frequency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in our cohort of pwMS, half of seropositive cases were asymptomatic. None of symptomatic cases had a severe COVID-19 course. DMTs inhibiting immune cell trafficking seem to be safe in our cohort of pwMS and may be considered as a therapeutical option for highly active MS during COVID-19 pandemic.