Recovery from COVID-19 in a B-cell-depleted multiple sclerosis patient. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wurm, Hannah; Attfield, Kate; Iversen, Astrid KN; Gold, Ralf; Fugger, Lars; Haghikia, Aiden
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 26:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1261
• Page End: 1264
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis (MS) -- rituximab -- B-cell-depleting therapy -- COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies -- cellular immune responses; 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: 10.1177/1352458520943791
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Approximately 200, 000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients worldwide receive B-cell-depleting immunotherapy with rituximab (anti-CD20), which eliminates the ability to generate an antibody response to new infections. As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–specific antibodies might help viral clearance, these patients could be at risk of severe complications if infected. Here, we report on an MS patient who had received rituximab for ~3 years. The patient was examined 5 days before the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms and was admitted to the hospital 2 days after. She recovered 14 days after symptom onset despite having a 0% B lymphocyte count and not developing SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies.