Coronavirus disease 2019 in Latin American patients with multiple sclerosis.

Authors :: Fragoso YD
Schiavetti I
Carmisciano L
Ponzano M
Steinberg J
Treviño-Frenk I
Ciampi E
Vecino MCA
Correa EP
Carcamo C
Gomes S
Pimentel MLV
Santos GAC
Vrech C
Winckler TCA
Sormani MP
Source :: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders [Mult Scler Relat Disord] 2021 Oct; Vol. 55, pp. 103173. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jul 25.
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are of particular interest to neurologists. These patients have a neuroimmune disease and receive immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies in the long-term. We present here data from 73 patients with MS and a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from five Latin American countries. Fifteen patients (20.5%) were hospitalized and two patients died. The use of anti-CD20 therapies was the only risk factor associated to hospitalization and death. Despite the small sample size, this study highlights the awareness regarding therapeutic options for MS during the pandemic.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)