Abstract
Background and aim: In December 2019, the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were detected in Wuhan. Within two months, it had begun to spread around the world in what became an unprecedented pandemic. Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a state of immunosuppression may be considered at risk for complications in the COVID-19 pandemic, although there is increasing evidence postulating a possible protective role of selective immunosuppression. One group of such immunosuppressants used in MS comprises the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) ocrelizumab and rituximab. Anti-CD20 mAbs bind to the surface of B cells, causing their depletion. We describe our experience in seven cases of patients with multiple sclerosis who have been affected by SARS-COV-2 (with a clinical/serological diagnosis or PCR diagnosis) and who were being treated with anti-CD20+ monoclonal antibodies.
Material and methods: We review the development of patients during infection as well as the resolution of their clinical picture. We also analyze the serology status against SARS-CoV-2 after resolution of the infection.
Results: Although the severity of the clinical pictures was variable, patients’ development was good. Not all patients, however, developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions: Patients treated with anti-CD20+ have adequate resolution of COVID-19 despite the fact that the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in all cases. It is possible that the presence of humoral immunity is not always necessary fora good clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, multiple sclerosis, serology, antibody, SARS-COV-2 infection, COVID-19 pandemic, severity, monoclonal antibody, Infection, B cells, Diagnosis, Immunosuppression, risk, monoclonal antibodies, immunosuppressants, rituximab, Spread, Humoral immunity, Clinical course, PCR, clinical picture, Wuhan, Patient, Complication, patients, mAbs, anti-CD20, Ocrelizumab, mAb, Immunosuppressant, CD20, Evidence, protective role, material, selective, Multiple, sclerosis, Seven, affected, treated, presence of antibody, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Treatment, therapy, Patient,