SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with neuroimmunological disorders in a tertiary referral centre from the north of Portugal.

INTRODUCTION

The impact of COVID-19 in patients with neuroimmunological disorders is not fully established. There is some evidence suggesting an increased risk of more severe infection associated with the use of immunosuppressors in this population.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients followed in the neuroimmunology outpatient clinic of a tertiary centre from the north of Portugal.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of neuroimmunological patients with PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection during the observational period of 20 months.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients were infected, 68.1% female, with a mean age of 48.9±16.7 years. The median disease duration was 11.0 (IQR 6.0-19.0) years. Sixty-one patients (67.0%) had Multiple Sclerosis, of which 50 with relapsing-remitting course, 12 (13.2%) Myasthenia Gravis (MG), 6 (6.6%) Autoimmune Encephalitis and 6 (6.6%) Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. Seventy-six patients (83.5%) were taking disease-modifying therapy, 77.6% of which were on immunosuppressants, including anti-CD20 in 12 (13.2%). Most patients had mild COVID-19 (84.6%), with 3 cases (3.3%) of severe disease and, 7 cases (7.7%) of critical disease being reported. In total, 13 patients were hospitalized and 4 died. Patients with severe to critical disease were significantly older than patients with milder forms (69.4±21.0 versus 46.5±14.4 years, p<0.01). MG was also associated with more severe disease (p=0.02). There was no association between comorbidities or use of immunosuppressors (including anti-CD20) and COVID-19 severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater age and MG were associated with severe or critical COVID-19. We found no association between a specific DMT, including anti-CD20, and outcome. Clinical recovery was achieved by 93.4%.