Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, emerged in December 2019, sparking a global health crisis. While initially recognized as a respiratory illness, it has become evident that Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also affects the central nervous system. T...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mary Hollist, Abraham Hollist, Katherine Au, Colton Betts, Maha Kirmani, Maaida Kirmani, Benjamin Armour, Mercy C Udeh, Batool F Kirmani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-09-01
Series:Neuroscience Insights
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/26331055241265668
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850112308355792896
author Mary Hollist
Abraham Hollist
Katherine Au
Colton Betts
Maha Kirmani
Maaida Kirmani
Benjamin Armour
Mercy C Udeh
Batool F Kirmani
author_facet Mary Hollist
Abraham Hollist
Katherine Au
Colton Betts
Maha Kirmani
Maaida Kirmani
Benjamin Armour
Mercy C Udeh
Batool F Kirmani
author_sort Mary Hollist
collection DOAJ
description Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, emerged in December 2019, sparking a global health crisis. While initially recognized as a respiratory illness, it has become evident that Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also affects the central nervous system. This comprehensive review focuses on the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and its impact on patients with preexisting neurological disorders, particularly those with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving disease-modifying therapies. Advancements in management, including vaccinations, antiviral therapy, and targeted prophylaxis, have led to a decline in the incidence and severity of COVID-19. Nevertheless, significant complications persist, particularly in patients with advanced MS, who are highly vulnerable to infectious agents like SARS-CoV-2. This review explores the evolving understanding of MS and its association with SARS-CoV-2, encompassing neuroinvasiveness, pathogenesis, disease severity, and outcomes. Research findings reveal substantial neurological implications for some MS patients with COVID-19, with a potential risk of disease relapse and severity. A notable proportion of MS patients experiencing COVID-19 may manifest new symptoms, experience exacerbation of existing symptoms, or encounter both simultaneously, underscoring the diverse neurological effects of the virus. While vaccination and therapeutics have mitigated the overall impact, specific subgroups, especially those on anti-CD20 therapy and with existing disability, remain at higher risk, necessitating ongoing vigilance and tailored care.
format Article
id doaj-art-fd000f4065f94a90bf49c56bc201d627
institution OA Journals
issn 2633-1055
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Neuroscience Insights
spelling doaj-art-fd000f4065f94a90bf49c56bc201d6272025-08-20T02:37:24ZengSAGE PublishingNeuroscience Insights2633-10552024-09-011910.1177/26331055241265668Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying TherapiesMary Hollist0Abraham Hollist1Katherine Au2Colton Betts3Maha Kirmani4Maaida Kirmani5Benjamin Armour6Mercy C Udeh7Batool F Kirmani8Atrium Health, Concord, NC, USAOptimal Health Medical Center, Miami, FL, USALoudoun Medical Group, Ashburn, VA, USATexas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USANeuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USAMichigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USAUniversity of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine—Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, USADepartment of Neurology, CHI St. Joseph Health, Bryan, TX, USASevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, emerged in December 2019, sparking a global health crisis. While initially recognized as a respiratory illness, it has become evident that Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also affects the central nervous system. This comprehensive review focuses on the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and its impact on patients with preexisting neurological disorders, particularly those with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving disease-modifying therapies. Advancements in management, including vaccinations, antiviral therapy, and targeted prophylaxis, have led to a decline in the incidence and severity of COVID-19. Nevertheless, significant complications persist, particularly in patients with advanced MS, who are highly vulnerable to infectious agents like SARS-CoV-2. This review explores the evolving understanding of MS and its association with SARS-CoV-2, encompassing neuroinvasiveness, pathogenesis, disease severity, and outcomes. Research findings reveal substantial neurological implications for some MS patients with COVID-19, with a potential risk of disease relapse and severity. A notable proportion of MS patients experiencing COVID-19 may manifest new symptoms, experience exacerbation of existing symptoms, or encounter both simultaneously, underscoring the diverse neurological effects of the virus. While vaccination and therapeutics have mitigated the overall impact, specific subgroups, especially those on anti-CD20 therapy and with existing disability, remain at higher risk, necessitating ongoing vigilance and tailored care.https://doi.org/10.1177/26331055241265668
spellingShingle Mary Hollist
Abraham Hollist
Katherine Au
Colton Betts
Maha Kirmani
Maaida Kirmani
Benjamin Armour
Mercy C Udeh
Batool F Kirmani
Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies
Neuroscience Insights
title Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies
title_full Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies
title_fullStr Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies
title_full_unstemmed Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies
title_short Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: An Overview on Risk, Severity, and Association With Disease Modifying Therapies
title_sort multiple sclerosis and covid 19 an overview on risk severity and association with disease modifying therapies
url https://doi.org/10.1177/26331055241265668
work_keys_str_mv AT maryhollist multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT abrahamhollist multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT katherineau multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT coltonbetts multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT mahakirmani multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT maaidakirmani multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT benjaminarmour multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT mercycudeh multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies
AT batoolfkirmani multiplesclerosisandcovid19anoverviewonriskseverityandassociationwithdiseasemodifyingtherapies