Background. We compared the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM in multiple sclerosis (MS), low-risk, and high-risk populations and explored possible clinical correlates. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited MS patients, low-risk (university staff from non-clinical departments), and high-risk individuals (healthcare staff from COVID-19 wards) from 11 May to 15 June 2020. We used lateral flow immunoassay to detect SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM. We used t-test, Fisher’s exact test, chi square test, or McNemar’s test, as appropriate, to evaluate between-group differences. Results. We recruited 310 MS patients (42.3 ± 12.4 years; females 67.1%), 862 low-risk individuals (42.9 ± 13.3 years; females 47.8%), and 235 high-risk individuals (39.4 ± 10.9 years; females 54.5%). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM in MS patients ( n = 9, 2.9%) was significantly lower than in the high-risk population ( n = 25, 10.6%) ( p < 0.001), and similar to the low-risk population ( n = 11, 1.3%) ( p = 0.057); these results were also confirmed after random matching by age and sex (1:1:1). No significant differences were found in demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory features. Among MS patients positive to SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM ( n = 9), only two patients retrospectively reported mild and short-lasting COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusions. MS patients have similar risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to the general population, and can be asymptomatic from COVID-19, also if using treatments with systemic immunosuppression.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, multiple sclerosis, antibody, Seroprevalence, Infection, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, SARS-CoV-2, IgM, cross-sectional, SARS-COV-2 infection, Immunosuppression, risk, Prevalence, lateral flow immunoassay, Asymptomatic, healthcare, female, Patient, Mild, General population, COVID-19 symptoms, patients, SARS-CoV-2 IgG, high-risk population, Laboratory features, significant difference, individual, t-test, random, positive, Fisher’s exact test, Chi square test, significantly lower, detect, evaluate, recruited, reported, age and sex, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Multiple, iceberg, Part,