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
Pages (from-to)	1256-1260
Number of pages	5
Journal	Multiple Sclerosis Journal
Volume	26
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458520942198
Publication status	Published - 1 Sep 2020

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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.",

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AU - Loonstra, Floor C.

AU - Hoitsma, Elske

AU - van Kempen, Zoé L.E.

AU - Killestein, Joep

AU - Mostert, Jop P.

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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.

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COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: The Dutch experience

Abstract

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