COVID-19 and its implications on the clinico-radiological course of multiple sclerosis: A case-control study

Rahmani M., Moghadasi A. N., Shahi S., Eskandarieh S., Azizi H., Hasanzadeh A., ...More

MEDICINA CLINICA, vol.160, no.5, pp.187-192, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 160 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.medcli.2022.06.020
  • Journal Name: MEDICINA CLINICA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, DIALNET
  • Page Numbers: pp.187-192
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that has been related to several risk factors such as various viral infections. We carried out this study in order to establish a relationship between COVID-19 infection and MS severity.Methods: In a case-control study, we recruited patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients were divided into two groups based on positive COVID-19 PCR at the end of the enroll-ment phase. Each patient was prospectively followed for 12 months. Demographical, clinical, and past medical history were collected during routine clinical practice. Assessments were performed every six months; MRI was performed at enrollment and 12 months later.Results: Three hundred and sixty-two patients participated in this study. MS patients with COVID-19 infection had significantly higher increases in the number of MRI lesions (p: 0.019, OR(CI): 6.37(1.54-26.34)) and EDSS scores (p: 0.017), but no difference was found in total annual relapses or relapse rates. COVID-19 infections were positively correlated with EDSS progression (p: 0.02) and the number of new MRI lesions (p: 0.004) and predicted the likelihood of the number of new MRI lesions by an odds of 5.92 (p: 0.018).Conclusion: COVID-19 may lead to higher disability scores in the RRMS population and is associated with developing new Gd-enhancing lesions in MRI imaging. However, no difference was observed between the groups regarding the number of relapses during follow-up.(c) 2022 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.