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. 2020 Nov:46:102482.
doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102482. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

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

Elisabeth Maillart  1 , Caroline Papeix  2 , Catherine Lubetzki  3 , Thomas Roux  2 , Valérie Pourcher  4 , Céline Louapre  3
Affiliations

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

Elisabeth Maillart et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Nov.

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Maillart reports personal fees from Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva and grants from Novartis and Roche, outside the submitted work.

Dr. Papeix reports personal fees from Biogen, Medday, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva, outside the submitted work.

Pr. Lubetzki reports grants and personal fees from BIOGEN, personal fees from MERCK-SERONO, personal fees from ROCHE, personal fees from REWIND, personal fees from IPSEN, outside the submitted work.

Dr. Roux reports personal fees from Biogen, Merck, Teva, outside the submitted work.

Pr Pourcher reports personal fees from Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, outside the submitted work.

Dr Louapre has received consulting or travel fees from Biogen, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Teva and Merck Serono, outside the submitted work.

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