scholarly journals Natalizumab administration in multiple sclerosis patients during active SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case series

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara G. Chisari ◽  
Simona Toscano ◽  
Sebastiano Arena ◽  
Chiara Finocchiaro ◽  
Arturo Montineri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
High Potency ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a pandemic, affecting the therapeutic management for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Any decision regarding the discontinuation of high-potency agents for moderate and highly active MS should be carefully evaluated, taking into account the potential risk of rebound of the disease. In particular, no data about clinical outcome of patients with MS receiving Natalizumab (NTZ) during active COVID-19 infection have been reported yet. Cases presentation We reported on 6 patients treated with NTZ for relapsing MS during active COVID-19 infection, who recovered without reporting any worsening or new symptoms. Most of the patients were asymptomatic, with the exception of one patient who had a slight worst COVID-19 clinical course. No patients received O2-therapy or required intensive care. No neurological complications were observed. Conclusions This paper reported the clinical outcome of patients with MS receiving NTZ during active COVID-19 infection. This case series suggests that treatment with NTZ during pandemic is relatively safe and might be continued in selected patients who are infected by COVID-19, thereby reducing the risk of MS disease rebound.

scholarly journals Safety of alemtuzumab in a nationwide cohort of Finnish multiple sclerosis patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilkka Rauma ◽  
Tiina Mustonen ◽  
Juha Matti Seppä ◽  
Maritta Ukkonen ◽  
Marianne Männikkö ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Serious Adverse Events ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Disease Modifying Therapy ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract Background Alemtuzumab is an effective disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). However, safety concerns limit its use in clinical practice. Objectives To evaluate the safety of alemtuzumab in a nationwide cohort of Finnish MS patients. Methods In this retrospective case series study, we analyzed the data of all but two MS patients who had received alemtuzumab in Finland until 2019. Data were systematically collected from patient files. Results Altogether 121 patients were identified, most of whom had received previous DMTs (82.6%). Median follow-up time after treatment initiation was 30.3 months and exceeded 24 months in 78 patients. Infusion-associated reactions (IARs) were observed in 84.3%, 57.3%, and 57.1% of patients during alemtuzumab courses 1–3, respectively. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed in 32.2% of patients, serious IARs in 12.4% of patients, and SAEs other than IARs in 23.1% of patients. Autoimmune adverse events were observed in 30.6% of patients. One patient died of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and one patient died of pneumonia. A previously unreported case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura was documented. Conclusions SAEs were more frequent in the present cohort than in previous studies. Even though alemtuzumab is a highly effective therapy for MS, vigorous monitoring with a long enough follow-up time is advised.

scholarly journals Neurological symptoms, manifestations, and complications associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biyan Nathanael Harapan ◽  
Hyeon Joo Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Neurological Symptoms ◽  
Neurological Manifestations ◽  
Fisher Syndrome ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, is responsible for the outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenging world issue. Although most COVID-19 patients primarily develop respiratory symptoms, an increasing number of neurological symptoms and manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been observed. In this narrative review, we elaborate on proposed neurotropic mechanisms and various neurological symptoms, manifestations, and complications of COVID-19 reported in the present literature. For this purpose, a review of all current published literature (studies, case reports, case series, reviews, editorials, and other articles) was conducted and neurological sequelae of COVID-19 were summarized. Essential and common neurological symptoms including gustatory and olfactory dysfunctions, myalgia, headache, altered mental status, confusion, delirium, and dizziness are presented separately in sections. Moreover, neurological manifestations and complications that are of great concern such as stroke, cerebral (sinus) venous thrombosis, seizures, meningoencephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome, Miller Fisher syndrome, acute myelitis, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) are also addressed systematically. Future studies that examine the impact of neurological symptoms and manifestations on the course of the disease are needed to further clarify and assess the link between neurological complications and the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19. To limit long-term consequences, it is crucial that healthcare professionals can early detect possible neurological symptoms and are well versed in the increasingly common neurological manifestations and complications of COVID-19.

scholarly journals A Timely Call to Arms: COVID-19, the Circadian Clock, and Critical Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-70
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Haspel ◽  
Minjee Kim ◽  
Phyllis Zee ◽  
Tanja Schwarzmeier ◽  
Sara Montagnese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Human Physiology ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Disease Expression ◽  
Severe Manifestation ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

We currently find ourselves in the midst of a global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the highly infectious novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we discuss aspects of SARS-CoV-2 biology and pathology and how these might interact with the circadian clock of the host. We further focus on the severe manifestation of the illness, leading to hospitalization in an intensive care unit. The most common severe complications of COVID-19 relate to clock-regulated human physiology. We speculate on how the pandemic might be used to gain insights on the circadian clock but, more importantly, on how knowledge of the circadian clock might be used to mitigate the disease expression and the clinical course of COVID-19.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in Argentine teriflunomide-treated multiple sclerosis patients: first national case series.

2021 ◽  
pp. 103049
Author(s):  
Geraldine Luetic ◽  
María L. Menichini ◽  
Marcos Burgos ◽  
Ricardo Alonso ◽  
Edgar Carnero Contentti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

scholarly journals 375. COVID 19 infection in a Massachusetts community hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S257-S258
Author(s):  
Raul Davaro ◽  
alwyn rapose
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Essential Hypertension ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Case Series ◽  
World Health ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections has led to 105690 cases and 7647 deaths in Massachusetts as of June 16. Methods The study was conducted at Saint Vincent Hospital, an academic health medical center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The institutional review board approved this case series as minimal-risk research using data collected for routine clinical practice and waived the requirement for informed consent. All consecutive patients who were sufficiently medically ill to require hospital admission with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by positive result on polymerase chain reaction testing of a nasopharyngeal sample were included. Results A total of 109 consecutive patients with COVID 19 were admitted between March 15 and May 31. Sixty one percent were men, the mean age of the cohort was 67. Forty one patients (37%) were transferred from nursing homes. Twenty seven patients died (24%) and the majority of the dead patients were men (62%). Fifty one patients (46%) required admission to the medical intensive care unit and 34 necessitated mechanical ventilation, twenty two patients on mechanical ventilation died (63%). The most common co-morbidities were essential hypertension (65%), obesity (60%), diabetes (33%), chronic kidney disease (22%), morbid obesity (11%), congestive heart failure (16%) and COPD (14%). Five patients required hemodialysis. Fifty five patients received hydroxychloroquine, 24 received tocilizumab, 20 received convalescent plasma and 16 received remdesivir. COVID 19 appeared in China in late 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Our study showed a high mortality in patients requiring mechanical ventilation (43%) as opposed to those who did not (5.7%). Hypertension, diabetes and obesity were highly prevalent in this aging population. Our cohort was too small to explore the impact of treatment with remdesivir, tocilizumab or convalescent plasma. Conclusion In this cohort obesity, diabetes and essential hypertension are risk factors associated with high mortality. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit who need mechanical ventilation have a mortality approaching 50 %. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Clinical course in multiple sclerosis patients presenting with a history of progressive disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Pandey ◽  
S.C. Krieger ◽  
C. Farrell ◽  
C. Hannigan ◽  
T. DeAngelis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Progressive Disease ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
History Of ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

scholarly journals PECULIARITIES OF THE CLINICAL COURSE OF POSTMEASLES ENCEPHALITIS IN IMMUNOSUPRESSED PEOPLE

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetiana Nehrych ◽  
◽  
Maria Shorobura ◽  
Irina Hritsyna ◽  
Liliia Yukhimiv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Inclusion Body ◽  
Bacterial Pneumonia ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Immunosuppressive Drugs ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

Primary acute measles encephalitis and acute postmeasles encephalitis are the most common neurological complications of measles. It is important to detect encephalitis, which develops a month or more after the manifestations of measles infection. These encephalitis are rare and occur mainly in people with immunodefi ciency. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system for the treatment of which diseasemodifying therapy is used, namely monoclonal antibodies, that can lead to immunosuppression and immunodefi ciency. Nowadays, there is insuffi cient information about the course of postcortical encephalitis in patients with multiple sclerosis who are taking immunosuppressive drugs. The article presents data on the clinical classifi cation, diagnosis and treatment of measles encephalitis. A clinical case of measles inclusion body encephalitis in a thirty-threeyear-old patient with multiple sclerosis on the background of annual intake of monoclonal antibodies is presented. She also had viral-bacterial pneumonia and developed disseminated intravascular coagulation in the brain and lungs. These complications of measles infection led to the death of the person after a month and a half of intensive care. Thus, patients with multiple sclerosis who are taking drugs with immunosuppressive eff ects are among the risk group for measles inclusion body encephalitis. Measles inclusion body encephalitis in such patients can be severe, which complicates timely diagnosis, proper treatment and leads to death.

Elevated D-dimer as an immediate response to alemtuzumab treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Libertinova ◽  
Eva Meluzinova ◽  
Eva Nema ◽  
Petra Rockova ◽  
Martin Elisak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Frequent Adverse Event ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Thrombotic Complications ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
Highly Active Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
D Dimer ◽  
Active Multiple Sclerosis

Alemtuzumab as a treatment of highly active multiple sclerosis causes a rapid decrease in inflammatory activity due the lysis of immune cells. Subsequent cytokine release determines the infusion-associated reaction that is a frequent adverse event of alemtuzumab treatment. Recently, serious cardiovascular and thrombotic adverse reactions following alemtuzumab infusion have been described. In our study, the dynamics of coagulation parameters were analyzed in 13 multiple sclerosis patients treated with alemtuzumab. An immediate, significant increase in the level of D-dimer was observed after the first administration of alemtuzumab. This observation provides evidence of coagulation activation and the potential risk of thrombotic complications with this therapy. Prophylactic low molecular weight heparin pretreatment maybe considered in patients receiving alemtuzumab.

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