COVID-19 pneumonia in a multiple sclerosis patient with severe lymphopenia due to recent cladribine treatment. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dersch, Rick; Wehrum, Thomas; Fähndrich, Sebastian; Engelhardt, Monika; Rauer, Sebastian; Berger, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 26:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1264
• Page End: 1266
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- cladribine -- COVID-19 -- prognosis; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458520943783
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Background: Most cases of COVID-19 are considered mild, but patients with immunosuppressant treatment might be prone to severe courses of disease. Expert panels advise to delay treatment with cell-depleting MS therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We report a case of a patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who developed COVID-19 pneumonia 2 weeks after the first week of cladribine therapy. Results: Despite a severe lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count 240/µL), the patient had a moderate course of COVID-19. Conclusion: Apart from maximal supportive treatment, this could be due to cladribine reducing inflammatory response, which probably contributes considerably to severe courses of COVID-19 pneumonia.