Covid-19 and Its Implications on the Clinico-Radiological Course of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case–Control Study; [Covid-19 Y Sus Implicaciones En El Curso Clinico-Radiologico De La Esclerosis Multiple: Un Estudio De Casos Y Controles] Publisher Pubmed



Rahmani M¹ ; Moghadasi AN² ; Shahi S³ ; Eskandarieh S² ; Azizi H⁴ ; Hasanzadeh A⁴ ; Ahmadzade A⁴ ; Dehnavi AZ⁵ ; Farahani RH⁶ ; Aminianfar M⁷ ; Naeini AR¹
Source: Medicina Clinica Published:2023

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 enrollment 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. © 2022 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.