SARS-CoV-2 and Multiple Sclerosis: Not all immune depleting DMTs are equal or bad.

Abstract

A major concern during the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic1 is the use of immunosuppressive therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) due to an increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and more severe disease. The Society of Italian Neurologists (SIN) and the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) MS and Neuroimmunology Advisory Group published guidance for the use of current disease modifying treatments (DMTs) in MS (Table 1)2 . However, taking into account, less conservative viewpoints3 , the emerging knowledge of the biology of SARS-CoV-2, and in particular the role of the immune mechanisms contributing to the disease, we propose modification of these guidelines since it is not clear that immunosuppression is indeed detrimental in people with MS infected with SARS-CoV-2. We are thus proposing a more nuanced approach and that the categories of DMTs should be modified based on scientific principles and the biology of severe COVID-19 (Table 2). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.