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Published in: Neurological Sciences 12/2021

01-12-2021 | Coronavirus | COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 infection after alemtuzumab in a multiple sclerosis patient: milder disease symptoms in comparison with coinfected relatives: a case report and review of the literature

Authors: Lorenzo Saraceno, Emanuela Laura Susani, Maria Raffaella Marazzi, Maria Cristina Moioli, Elio Clemente Agostoni, Alessandra Protti

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 12/2021

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Abstract

Literature data reporting SARS-CoV-2 infection in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients recently treated with immunodepleting agents as cladribine and alemtuzumab are very limited. The relationship between iatrogenic immunodeficiency and risk related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and its severe complications is still not clear. Cautiously, the start of immunosuppressant drugs as alemtuzumab and cladribine during the current COVID-19 pandemic is not recommended unless treatment benefits significantly outweigh potential risks. We report the case of a 30-year-old female MS patient infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus 4 months after alemtuzumab II cycle, while she was still leukopenic and lymphopenic. She had no complications and also presented milder COVID-related signs and symptoms as compared to her coinfected relatives (father, mother and her partner). Anti-S1 and S2 SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, tested 1 month and a half after the infection, resulted positive. We review all cases reported in literature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in MS patients treated with alemtuzumab. None of them had complications or severe disease.
Literature
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go back to reference Louapre C, Collongues N, Stankoff B, Giannesini C, Papeix C, Bensa C, Deschamps R, Créange A, Wahab A, Pelletier J, Heinzlef O, Labauge P, Guilloton L, Ahle G, Goudot M, Bigaut K, Laplaud DA, Vukusic S, Lubetzki C et al (2020) Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and multiple sclerosis. JAMA Neurol 1(77(9)):1079–1088. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2581CrossRef Louapre C, Collongues N, Stankoff B, Giannesini C, Papeix C, Bensa C, Deschamps R, Créange A, Wahab A, Pelletier J, Heinzlef O, Labauge P, Guilloton L, Ahle G, Goudot M, Bigaut K, Laplaud DA, Vukusic S, Lubetzki C et al (2020) Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and multiple sclerosis. JAMA Neurol 1(77(9)):1079–1088. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1001/​jamaneurol.​2020.​2581CrossRef
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Metadata
Title
SARS-CoV-2 infection after alemtuzumab in a multiple sclerosis patient: milder disease symptoms in comparison with coinfected relatives: a case report and review of the literature
Authors
Lorenzo Saraceno
Emanuela Laura Susani
Maria Raffaella Marazzi
Maria Cristina Moioli
Elio Clemente Agostoni
Alessandra Protti
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 12/2021
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05567-7

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