Beyond COVID-19: DO MS/NMO-SD patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies develop SARS-CoV2 antibodies?

Elisabeth Maillart; Caroline Papeix; Catherine Lubetzki; Thomas Roux; Valérie Pourcher; Céline Louapre

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2020.102482

Beyond COVID-19: DO MS/NMO-SD patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies develop SARS-CoV2 antibodies?

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Nov:46:102482. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102482. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Authors

Elisabeth Maillart¹, Caroline Papeix², Catherine Lubetzki³, Thomas Roux², Valérie Pourcher⁴, Céline Louapre³

Affiliations

¹ AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Neurology, Paris, France; CRC SEP Paris, France. Electronic address: elisabeth.maillart@aphp.fr.
² AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Neurology, Paris, France; CRC SEP Paris, France.
³ AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Neurology, Paris, France; CRC SEP Paris, France; Sorbonne University, Paris Brain Institute, APHP, Inserm, CNRS, CIC neuroscience, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.
⁴ Department of infectious and tropical diseases, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France; HIV Pathogenesis and Immune Aging Team, Immunity and Infectious Diseases Research Center, INSERM U1135, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.

Abstract

Since 2019, a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) due to an agent called SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly worldwide. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMO-SD) are often treated with immunosuppressants. Beyond their effect on the risk of COVID-19 infection, the consequences on the long-term immune response against the coronavirus remain unknown. Among 13 MS or NMOSD patients with confirmed COVID-19 included, all 5 patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies had a negative SARS-CoV-2 serology. To date, maximal precautions to prevent coronavirus infection should be maintained in MS/NMOSD patients already exposed to COVID-19 during anti-CD20 therapy.

Keywords: Anti-CD20 therapy; COVID-19; Multiple sclerosis; SARS-CoV2; Serology.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

Adult
Antigens, CD20 / immunology*
COVID-19 / immunology
COVID-19 / virology
COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
Coronavirus Infections / immunology
Coronavirus Infections / virology
Female
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
Male
Multiple Sclerosis / complications
Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
Multiple Sclerosis / virology
Neuromyelitis Optica / drug therapy*
Neuromyelitis Optica / epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*

Substances

Antigens, CD20
Immunosuppressive Agents