Publications
COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Rituximab Compared to Natalizumab and Healthy Controls: A Real-World Multicenter Study
Thomas Mathew 1,✉, Surabhi Garg 1, Saji K John 1, Mal S Kimi 1, Naom Z Chhakchhuak 1, 1, Molly George 1, Shagun Bhardwaj 1, , Sonia Shivde 1, Sagar Badachi 1, Akshata Huddar 1, Gosala R K Sarma 1, Raghunandan Nadig 1 The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on people living with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) on different immunomodulating therapies like rituximab and natalizumab is unknown in the Indian population. There is a potential concern that PwMS on B-cell therapy, like rituximab, may exhibit greater susceptibility to infection compared to those receiving natalizumab. Several studies have reported conflicting findings regarding the correlation between COVID-19 infection rates and rituximab treatment. Few similar studies have explored COVID-19 infection rates in PwMS receiving natalizumab. Currently, no studies provide a comparative analysis of the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection among patients on rituximab, natalizumab, and healthy controls.
The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection in PwMS receiving rituximab, natalizumab, and healthy controls.
