Challenges in Diagnosis of COVID-19 Pneumonia under Ocrelizumab and De-Risking Strategies in Multiple Sclerosis—The Elephant Is (Still) in the Room

Abstract

Severe SARS-CoV-2 infections may still be observed in people bearing risk factors, such as the use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are adopted in several autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS). COVID-19 diagnosis is routinely based on nasopharyngeal swab testing, but suboptimal sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection compared to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may lead to misdiagnosis in some cases. Such diagnostic issues were described in a few MS patients receiving anti-CD20 mAbs, including middle-aged people and lacking information on subsequent MS therapeutic management, a debated topic as no evidence-based guidance on de-risking strategies is currently available. Here, we report the case of a young MS patient who developed severe COVID-19 pneumonia under treatment with the anti-CD20 mAb ocrelizumab, and who was finally diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by BAL despite repeatedly negative nasopharyngeal swabs. Ocrelizumab was then discontinued, and treatment with a sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor modulator was started, followed by maintenance of clinical and radiological MS stability. Challenges in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in people without risk factors other than immunomodulatory treatment are hence discussed, as well as potential strategies for de-risking MS therapies. The latter topic is increasingly debated based on raising concerns for potential long-term safety issues of high-efficacy treatments, including anti-CD20 mAbs.