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. 2024 Sep 27;19(1):356.
doi: 10.1186/s13023-024-03357-w.

COVID-19 risk factors and outcomes in individuals with stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders before and after omicron

Hanyeh Afshar  1 , Alexandra Simpson  1 , Elena Taylor  1 , Ashley Miles  1 , Herbert R Chen  1 , Scott D Newsome  2
Affiliations

COVID-19 risk factors and outcomes in individuals with stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders before and after omicron

Hanyeh Afshar et al. Orphanet J Rare Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders (SPSD) are rare, disabling disorders of the nervous system that are associated with risk factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, limited data exist on the overall impact of COVID-19 on SPSD.

Methods: Patients with SPSD and COVID-19 who are followed at Johns Hopkins SPS Center were included. Demographics and SPSD characteristics along with COVID-19-specific data were recorded.

Results: Thirty-five cases of SPSD with COVID-19 cases were reported during the study time period. Mean age of the cohort was 56 (SD ± 10) and most were female (66.7%). Eighty percent of the COVID-19 cases were confirmed with testing, and the rest were highly suggestive of COVID-19. COVID-19 comorbidities among patients were hypertension (n = 6), diabetes (n = 6), obesity (n = 5), and cardiovascular disease (n = 4). The majority of participants were on immune therapies and/or benzodiazepines. Out of the cases reported, only 2 required hospitalization, both of whom had diabetes, and one was on immunosuppressive therapy. The majority of cases were post-full-vaccination cases. Fever was the most common COVID-19-associated symptom. Transient neurological symptoms were also reported.

Conclusion: Risk factors for developing severe COVID-19 in SPSD appear to be the same as historical data in the general population. Importantly, COVID-19 did not appear to be associated with worsening SPSD post-COVID-19. Vaccination may have played a role in preventing severe cases of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Neurology; SPSD; Stiff person syndrome; Vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Vaccination status in post-full-vaccination cases
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
COVID-19 symptoms among the studied cases. Post-Omicron period was defined as occurring on or after November 23rd, 2021 for the case that occurred in South Africa, and on or after December 1st, 2021 for cases that occurred in the United States
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Scores on the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) before and after infection with COVID-19
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Type of treatment used for COVID-19 cases studied
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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