Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheath of nerves. MS patients treated with rituximab, an immunosuppressive drug, experience reduced immunoglobulin levels, which increases their risk of variou...

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Main Authors: Kiana Shirani, Farzin Khorvash, Alireza Karamshahi, Asieh Maghamimehr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jrms.jrms_150_25
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author Kiana Shirani
Farzin Khorvash
Alireza Karamshahi
Asieh Maghamimehr
author_facet Kiana Shirani
Farzin Khorvash
Alireza Karamshahi
Asieh Maghamimehr
author_sort Kiana Shirani
collection DOAJ
description Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheath of nerves. MS patients treated with rituximab, an immunosuppressive drug, experience reduced immunoglobulin levels, which increases their risk of various infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these patients developed long-term symptoms following infection. These chronic symptoms have led to significant complications and, in some cases, increased mortality. In this case series study, we investigated long COVID-19 symptoms in MS patients treated with rituximab and the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in alleviating chronic symptoms. The results demonstrated that the patients’ long-term symptoms responded to IVIG treatment, with significant improvements in respiratory symptoms, fever, immune parameters, and a reduction in C-reactive protein levels. This study highlights the importance of targeted management of long COVID-19 in immunocompromised populations and suggests that COVID-19 patients with immune deficiencies require specific therapeutic approaches.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1735-1995
1735-7136
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
spelling doaj-art-aa5da0c9900a406b91922f280eb26dc32025-08-20T02:32:04ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Research in Medical Sciences1735-19951735-71362025-05-01301262610.4103/jrms.jrms_150_25Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series studyKiana ShiraniFarzin KhorvashAlireza KaramshahiAsieh MaghamimehrMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheath of nerves. MS patients treated with rituximab, an immunosuppressive drug, experience reduced immunoglobulin levels, which increases their risk of various infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these patients developed long-term symptoms following infection. These chronic symptoms have led to significant complications and, in some cases, increased mortality. In this case series study, we investigated long COVID-19 symptoms in MS patients treated with rituximab and the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in alleviating chronic symptoms. The results demonstrated that the patients’ long-term symptoms responded to IVIG treatment, with significant improvements in respiratory symptoms, fever, immune parameters, and a reduction in C-reactive protein levels. This study highlights the importance of targeted management of long COVID-19 in immunocompromised populations and suggests that COVID-19 patients with immune deficiencies require specific therapeutic approaches.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jrms.jrms_150_25hypogammaglobulinemiaintravenous immunoglobulinlong coronavirus disease 2019multiple sclerosisrituximab
spellingShingle Kiana Shirani
Farzin Khorvash
Alireza Karamshahi
Asieh Maghamimehr
Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
hypogammaglobulinemia
intravenous immunoglobulin
long coronavirus disease 2019
multiple sclerosis
rituximab
title Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study
title_full Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study
title_fullStr Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study
title_full_unstemmed Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study
title_short Investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab: A case series study
title_sort investigating outcomes and treatment of long coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with rituximab a case series study
topic hypogammaglobulinemia
intravenous immunoglobulin
long coronavirus disease 2019
multiple sclerosis
rituximab
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jrms.jrms_150_25
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AT farzinkhorvash investigatingoutcomesandtreatmentoflongcoronavirusdisease2019inpatientswithmultiplesclerosistreatedwithrituximabacaseseriesstudy
AT alirezakaramshahi investigatingoutcomesandtreatmentoflongcoronavirusdisease2019inpatientswithmultiplesclerosistreatedwithrituximabacaseseriesstudy
AT asiehmaghamimehr investigatingoutcomesandtreatmentoflongcoronavirusdisease2019inpatientswithmultiplesclerosistreatedwithrituximabacaseseriesstudy