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open access

Vol 55, No 4 (2021)
Review Article
Submitted: 2021-01-20
Accepted: 2021-03-30
Published online: 2021-08-03
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Multiple sclerosis immunomodulatory therapies tested for effectiveness in COVID-19

Bożena Adamczyk1, Natalia Morawiec1, Monika Arendarczyk1, Monika Baran1, Krzysztof Wierzbicki1, Paweł Sowa2, Monika Adamczyk-Sowa1
DOI: 10.5603/PJNNS.a2021.0051
·
Pubmed: 34346052
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2021;55(4):357-368.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Neurology in Zabrze, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
  2. Department of Laryngology in Zabrze, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

open access

Vol 55, No 4 (2021)
Review articles
Submitted: 2021-01-20
Accepted: 2021-03-30
Published online: 2021-08-03

Abstract

Introduction: The global pandemic of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Research into effective therapies has been conducted worldwide. Currently, there is no antiviral treatment and many patients develop a severe course of the disease, including severe respiratory failure. Due to similar pathomechanisms of inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and COVID-19, immunomodulatory drugs that are registered for the treatment of MS are under study in the SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical trials.
Materials and methods: Using clinicaltrials.gov, we found information related to ongoing clinical studies on potential drugs
for COVID-19 which are also used in MS therapy. The outcomes of several trials were published on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Results: There were 18 clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of interferon-β, fingolimod, or leflunomide in
COVID-19. Some trial outcomes available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov suggested an association of these drug treatments with improvements in signs and symptoms, and the disease course.
Conclusion: The administration of immunomodulatory drugs in COVID-19 may result in potential beneficial effects probably
associated with their anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Further research is warranted to confirm the long-term effects of immunomodulatory therapies in patients with COVID-19.

Abstract

Introduction: The global pandemic of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Research into effective therapies has been conducted worldwide. Currently, there is no antiviral treatment and many patients develop a severe course of the disease, including severe respiratory failure. Due to similar pathomechanisms of inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and COVID-19, immunomodulatory drugs that are registered for the treatment of MS are under study in the SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical trials.
Materials and methods: Using clinicaltrials.gov, we found information related to ongoing clinical studies on potential drugs
for COVID-19 which are also used in MS therapy. The outcomes of several trials were published on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Results: There were 18 clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of interferon-β, fingolimod, or leflunomide in
COVID-19. Some trial outcomes available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov suggested an association of these drug treatments with improvements in signs and symptoms, and the disease course.
Conclusion: The administration of immunomodulatory drugs in COVID-19 may result in potential beneficial effects probably
associated with their anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Further research is warranted to confirm the long-term effects of immunomodulatory therapies in patients with COVID-19.

Full Text:

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Keywords

multiple sclerosis; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; immunomodulatory therapies

About this article
Title

Multiple sclerosis immunomodulatory therapies tested for effectiveness in COVID-19

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 55, No 4 (2021)

Article type

Review Article

Pages

357-368

Published online

2021-08-03

Page views

1407

Article views/downloads

1208

DOI

10.5603/PJNNS.a2021.0051

Pubmed

34346052

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2021;55(4):357-368.

Keywords

multiple sclerosis
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
immunomodulatory therapies

Authors

Bożena Adamczyk
Natalia Morawiec
Monika Arendarczyk
Monika Baran
Krzysztof Wierzbicki
Paweł Sowa
Monika Adamczyk-Sowa

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