The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is concerning for patients with neuroimmunological diseases who are receiving immunotherapy. Uncertainty remains about whether immunotherapies increase the risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or increase the risk of severe disease and death upon infection. National and international societies have developed guidelines and statements, but consensus does not exist in several areas. In this Review, we attempt to clarify where consensus exists and where uncertainty remains to inform management approaches based on the first principles of neuroimmunology. We identified key questions that have been addressed in the literature and collated the recommendations to generate a consensus calculation in a Delphi-like approach to summarize the information. We summarize the international recommendations, discuss them in light of the first available data from patients with COVID-19 receiving immunotherapy and provide an overview of management approaches in the COVID-19 era. We stress the principles of medicine in general and neuroimmunology in particular because, although the risk of viral infection has become more relevant, most of the considerations apply to the general management of neurological immunotherapy. We also give special consideration to immunosuppressive treatment and cell-depleting therapies that might increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection but reduce the risk of severe COVID-19. In this Review, the authors synthesize recommendations on the management of neuroimmunological disease in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. They consider these recommendations alongside the first available data from patients, and provide an overview of management approaches in the COVID-19 era. Key points The risk that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses for people who are receiving immunotherapy for neuroimmunological disease remains unclear. Guidelines and statements have been published by societies and individuals, but the level of consensus differs for different aspects; we use a Delphi-like process to clarify where consensus exists. Without evidence, management of neuroimmunological diseases in the context of COVID-19 requires application of the first principles of immunotherapy, taking into account disease-related, patient-related, physician-related, environment-related and COVID-19-related factors. In general, corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and/or plasma exchange for the treatment of acute neuroimmunological deteriorations can be administered with low risk in the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, ongoing immunotherapy should not be stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic; treatment initiation and optimization are also recommended. For some aspects of immunotherapy in the context of COVID-19, consensus in the literature is low, and collection of data in patient registries is important for resolving these uncertainties.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, multiple sclerosis, Neurological disorders,