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COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: The Dutch experience

Floor C Loonstra1, Elske Hoitsma2, Zoé LE van Kempen1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|July 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Netherlands showed no difference in disease course based on disease-modifying treatment (DMT) use. Low lymphocyte counts were not linked to severe COVID-19 outcomes in MS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
  • The impact of COVID-19 on MS patients requires thorough investigation, especially concerning treatment and disease severity.
  • Understanding COVID-19 outcomes in MS patients is crucial for clinical management and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze COVID-19 cases in multiple sclerosis patients in the Netherlands.
  • To evaluate the relationship between disease-modifying treatment (DMT) use and COVID-19 disease course in MS patients.
  • To determine if low lymphocyte count is associated with severe COVID-19 in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected by the Dutch MS Taskforce of the Netherlands Society of Neurology.
  • Inclusion of all reported COVID-19 cases in MS patients between February 27 and June 9, 2020.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, COVID-19 status, hospitalization, ICU admission, mortality, DMT use, and lymphocyte counts.

Main Results:

  • A total of 86 MS patients were reported; 43 tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Of those positive, 22 were hospitalized, with 3 ICU admissions and 4 deaths.
  • No significant difference in COVID-19 disease course was observed based on DMT use.
  • A clear link between low lymphocyte count and severe COVID-19 disease was not identified.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 outcomes in Dutch MS patients did not appear to be significantly influenced by disease-modifying treatment.
  • Low lymphocyte count was not found to be a reliable indicator of severe COVID-19 in this cohort of MS patients.
  • Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between MS, its treatments, and viral infections like COVID-19.
Keywords:
COVID-19Multiple sclerosisdisease-modifying treatmentlymphocytes

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