Seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in a Cohort of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis under Disease‐Modifying Therapies

Abstract

Background: Disease‐modifying therapies (DMTs) used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) alter the immune system and therefore increase the risk of infection. There is growing concern about the impact of COVID‐19 on patients with MS (pwMS), especially those treated with DMTs. Methods: This is a single‐center prospective observational study based on data from the Esclerosis Múltiple y COVID‐19 (EMCOVID‐19) study. Demographic characteristics, MS history, laboratory data and SARS‐CoV‐2 serology, and symptoms of COVID‐19 in pwMS treated with any DTM were extracted. The relationship among demographics, MS status, DMT, and COVID‐19 was evaluated. Results: A total of 259 pwMS were included. The administration of interferon was significantly associated with the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies (26.4% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.006). Although patients taking interferon were significantly older (49.1 vs. 43.5, p = 0.003), the association of interferon with the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies was still significant in the multivariate analysis (OR 2.99 (1.38; 6.36), p = 0.006). Conclusions: According to our data, pwMS present a higher risk of COVID‐ 19 infection compared with results obtained from the general population. There is no evidence of a worse COVID‐19 outcome in pwMS. DMTs did not significantly change the frequency of COVID‐ 19, except for interferon; however, these findings must be interpreted with caution given the small sample of pwMS taking each DMT.