COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: The Dutch experience

Floor C. Loonstra; Elske Hoitsma; Zoé L.E. van Kempen; Joep Killestein; Jop P. Mostert

doi:10.1177/1352458520942198

COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: The Dutch experience

Floor C. Loonstra^*, Elske Hoitsma, Zoé L.E. van Kempen, Joep Killestein, Jop P. Mostert

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Here, we provide an extensive overview of all reported COVID-19 cases in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Netherlands between 27 February and 9 June 2020, gathered by the Dutch MS Taskforce of the Netherlands Society of Neurology. A total of 86 MS patients were reported, 43 of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Of 43 patients who tested positive, 22 patients were hospitalized. Three intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and four deaths were reported. Our findings show no apparent difference in disease-modifying treatment (DMT) use and COVID-19 disease course in Dutch MS patients. In addition, a clear link between low lymphocyte count and severe disease was not observed.

Original language	English
Journal	Multiple Sclerosis Journal
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458520942198
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 1 Jan 2020

Access to Document

10.1177/1352458520942198

Link to publication in Scopus

Cite this

Loonstra, F. C., Hoitsma, E., van Kempen, Z. L. E., Killestein, J., & Mostert, J. P. (Accepted/In press). COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: The Dutch experience. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458520942198

@article{4a9a6f7594bb4186be445a755bc3cdf3,

title = "COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: The Dutch experience",

abstract = "Here, we provide an extensive overview of all reported COVID-19 cases in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Netherlands between 27 February and 9 June 2020, gathered by the Dutch MS Taskforce of the Netherlands Society of Neurology. A total of 86 MS patients were reported, 43 of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Of 43 patients who tested positive, 22 patients were hospitalized. Three intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and four deaths were reported. Our findings show no apparent difference in disease-modifying treatment (DMT) use and COVID-19 disease course in Dutch MS patients. In addition, a clear link between low lymphocyte count and severe disease was not observed.",

keywords = "COVID-19, disease-modifying treatment, lymphocytes, Multiple sclerosis",

author = "Loonstra, {Floor C.} and Elske Hoitsma and {van Kempen}, {Zo{\'e} L.E.} and Joep Killestein and Mostert, {Jop P.}",

year = "2020",

month = "1",

day = "1",

doi = "10.1177/1352458520942198",

language = "English",

journal = "Multiple Sclerosis",

issn = "1352-4585",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis

T2 - The Dutch experience

AU - Loonstra, Floor C.

AU - Hoitsma, Elske

AU - van Kempen, Zoé L.E.

AU - Killestein, Joep

AU - Mostert, Jop P.

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - Here, we provide an extensive overview of all reported COVID-19 cases in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Netherlands between 27 February and 9 June 2020, gathered by the Dutch MS Taskforce of the Netherlands Society of Neurology. A total of 86 MS patients were reported, 43 of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Of 43 patients who tested positive, 22 patients were hospitalized. Three intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and four deaths were reported. Our findings show no apparent difference in disease-modifying treatment (DMT) use and COVID-19 disease course in Dutch MS patients. In addition, a clear link between low lymphocyte count and severe disease was not observed.

AB - Here, we provide an extensive overview of all reported COVID-19 cases in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Netherlands between 27 February and 9 June 2020, gathered by the Dutch MS Taskforce of the Netherlands Society of Neurology. A total of 86 MS patients were reported, 43 of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Of 43 patients who tested positive, 22 patients were hospitalized. Three intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and four deaths were reported. Our findings show no apparent difference in disease-modifying treatment (DMT) use and COVID-19 disease course in Dutch MS patients. In addition, a clear link between low lymphocyte count and severe disease was not observed.

KW - COVID-19

KW - disease-modifying treatment

KW - lymphocytes

KW - Multiple sclerosis

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087935253&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/1352458520942198

DO - 10.1177/1352458520942198

M3 - Article

C2 - 32662742

AN - SCOPUS:85087935253

JO - Multiple Sclerosis

JF - Multiple Sclerosis

SN - 1352-4585

ER -