Challenges of persons with multiple sclerosis on ocrelizumab treatment during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease of the 2019 pandemic caused much fear among people with chronic diseases and those on immunosuppressant treatment because of spreading knowledge that the infection has a fatal course in these populations. People with Multiple Sclerosis on ocrelizumab treatment share this fear too. We aimed to investigate treatment and lifestyle changes of people with multiple sclerosis on ocrelizumab treatment during the lockdown. Methods: We surveyed 199 of our registered multiple sclerosis patients on ocrelizumab treatment by phone. Results: In this survey, delays in treating 22 (11%) patients were not caused by fear of immunosuppressive drug use but rather by the general fear of contracting a fatal disease, which is the case during traveling and hospital visits. There was a positive correlation between living alone and treatment delay (P =.029), emphasizing the role of family support or just the presence of another person during the pandemic. Conclusion: Vaccines might soon solve the pandemic's issue, which is not the case with multiple sclerosis progression, so we should think twice before discontinuing the treatment.