Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the impact of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: We retrospectively collected data of PwMS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. All the patients had complete follow-up to death or recovery. Severe COVID-19 was defined by a 3-level variable: mild disease not requiring hospitalization versus pneumonia or hospitalization versus intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated with severe COVID-19 by multivariate and propensity score (PS)-weighted ordinal logistic models. Sensitivity analyses were run to confirm the results. Results: Of 844 PwMS with suspected (n = 565) or confirmed (n = 279) COVID-19, 13 (1.54%) died; 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-eight (4.5%) were admitted to an ICU; 99 (11.7%) had radiologically documented pneumonia; 96 (11.4%) were hospitalized. After adjusting for region, age, sex, progressive MS course, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, body mass index, comorbidities, and recent methylprednisolone use, therapy with an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab or rituximab) was significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18–4.74, p = 0.015) with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Recent use (<1 month) of methylprednisolone was also associated with a worse outcome (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.20–12.53, p = 0.001). Results were confirmed by the PS-weighted analysis and by all the sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: This study showed an acceptable level of safety of therapies with a broad array of mechanisms of action. However, some specific elements of risk emerged. These will need to be considered while the COVID-19 pandemic persists. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:780–789.
Sormani, M. P., De Rossi, N., Schiavetti, I., Carmisciano, L., Cordioli, C., Moiola, L., Radaelli, M., Immovilli, P., Capobianco, M., Trojano, M., Zaratin, P., Tedeschi, G., Comi, G., Battaglia, M. A., Patti, F., Salvetti, M., Nozzolillo, A., Bellacosa, A., Protti, A., Di Sapio, A., Signori, A., Petrone, A., Bisecco, A., Iovino, A., Dutto, A., Repice, A. M., Conte, A., Bertolotto, A., Bosco, A., Gallo, A., Zito, A., Sartori, A., Giometto, B., Tortorella, C., Antozzi, C., Pozzilli, C., Mancinelli, C. R., Zanetta, C., Cordano, C., Cordioli, C., Scandellari, C., Guaschino, C., Gasperini, C., Solaro, C., Fioretti, C., Bezzini, D., Marastoni, D., Paolicelli, D., Vecchio, D., Landi, D., Bucciantini, E., Pedrazzoli, E., Signoriello, E., Sbragia, E., Susani, E. L., Curti, E., Milano, E., Marinelli, F., Camilli, F., Boneschi, F. M., Govone, F., Bovis, F., Calabria, F., Caleri, F., Rinaldi, F., Vitetta, F., Corea, F., Crescenzo, F., Patti, F., Teatini, F., Tabiadon, G., Granella, F., Boffa, G., Lus, G., Brichetto, G., Comi, G., Tedeschi, G., Maniscalco, G. T., Borriello, G., De Luca, G., Konrad, G., Vaula, G., Marfia, G. A., Mallucci, G., Liberatore, G., Salemi, G., Miele, G., Sibilia, G., Pesci, I., Schiavetti, I., Brambilla, L., Lopiano, L., Sinisi, L., Pasquali, L., Saraceno, L., Carmisciano, L., Chiveri, L., Mancinelli, L., Moiola, L., Grimaldi, L. M. E., Caniatti, L. M., Capobianco, M., Cava, M. D., Onofrj, M., Rovaris, M., Salvetti, M., Vercellino, M., Bragadin, M. M., Buccafusca, M., Buscarinu, M. C., Celani, M. G., Grasso, M. G., Stromillo, M. L., Petracca, M., Amato, M. P., Sormani, M. P., L'Episcopo, M. R., Sessa, M., Ferro, M. T., Trojano, M., Ercolani, M. V., Bianco, M., Re, M. L., Vianello, M., Clerico, M., Battaglia, M. A., Ponzano, M., Radaelli, M., Conti, M. Z., Calabrese, M., Mirabella, M., Filippi, M., Inglese, M., Lucchini, M., Pozzato, M., Danni, M. C., Zaffaroni, M., Zampolini, M., Ponzio, M., De Riz, M., De Rossi, N., De Stefano, N., Cavalla, P., De Mitri, P., Grossi, P., Zaratin, P., Confalonieri, P., Gallo, P., Immovilli, P., Ragonese, P., Sola, P., Annovazzi, P., Iaffaldano, P., Nardone, R., Cerqua, R., Clerici, R., Lanzillo, R., Motta, R., Balgera, R., Bergamaschi, R., Totaro, R., Iodice, R., Capra, R., Marangoni, S., Realmuto, S., Cottone, S., Montepietra, S., Rasia, S., Arena, S., Bucello, S., Banfi, S., Bonavita, S., Malucchi, S., Tonietti, S., Vollaro, S., Cordera, S., Aguglia, U., Clerici, V. T., Barcella, V., Bergamaschi, V., Morra, V. B., Dattola, V., Mantero, V., Di Napoli, M., Disease-Modifying Therapies and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis, <<ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY>>, 2021; 89 (4): 780-789. [doi:10.1002/ana.26028] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/176940]
Disease-Modifying Therapies and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis
Mirabella, Massimiliano;Lucchini, Matteo;
2021
Abstract
Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the impact of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: We retrospectively collected data of PwMS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. All the patients had complete follow-up to death or recovery. Severe COVID-19 was defined by a 3-level variable: mild disease not requiring hospitalization versus pneumonia or hospitalization versus intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated with severe COVID-19 by multivariate and propensity score (PS)-weighted ordinal logistic models. Sensitivity analyses were run to confirm the results. Results: Of 844 PwMS with suspected (n = 565) or confirmed (n = 279) COVID-19, 13 (1.54%) died; 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-eight (4.5%) were admitted to an ICU; 99 (11.7%) had radiologically documented pneumonia; 96 (11.4%) were hospitalized. After adjusting for region, age, sex, progressive MS course, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, body mass index, comorbidities, and recent methylprednisolone use, therapy with an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab or rituximab) was significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18–4.74, p = 0.015) with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Recent use (<1 month) of methylprednisolone was also associated with a worse outcome (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.20–12.53, p = 0.001). Results were confirmed by the PS-weighted analysis and by all the sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: This study showed an acceptable level of safety of therapies with a broad array of mechanisms of action. However, some specific elements of risk emerged. These will need to be considered while the COVID-19 pandemic persists. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:780–789.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.