The impact of Covid۱۹ pandemic on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients, after one year of epidemic: A report from Isfahan, Iran

Coronavirus ۲۰۱۹ created a pandemic with high mortality. Underlying disease and immune system suppression make prone to infection. The nature of NMOSD disease as well as its treatment by immunosuppressants predisposes patients to infection. The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of Covid۱۹ pandemic on the clinical course of NMOSD and the characteristics of Covid۱۹ infection in patients after a year. We considered relapses during the year of epidemic and the year before and the presentation of Covid۱۹ infection in the NMOSD patients. Patients were asked also about changes in maintenance therapy. Study included ۱۲۰ patients (۹۶ female). Mean age was ۳۶.۳۷±۹.۶۹ and mean disease duration was ۸.۴۹±۵.۳۵. Overall, ۳۶ relapses reported during the year before epidemic (ARR:۰.۳) and ۲۹ relapses during Covid۱۹ epidemic (ARR:۰.۲۴). The maintenance therapy of NMOSD was rituximab in ۹۶ cases, azathioprine in ۲۲ and methotrexate in ۲ ones.۳۵ patients infected by Covid۱۹ (diagnosis by RT-PCR test).۶ of them admitted in hospital and two received ICU care. There was one death due to respiratory failure. Five patients experienced gastrointestinal symptoms as the presentation. Their mean age was ۳۶.۰۲±۱۰.۱۱ years and the disease duration was ۶.۸۲±۴.۶۲. ۲۰ of ۳۵ patients reported close contact with COVID۱۹ cases (among relatives) before infection. Results showed in spite of suppression of the immune system, neither incidence nor the number of the serious complications of COVID۱۹ infection was high. Regarding the disabling nature of NMOSD as well as prolonged epidemic period, it may be reasonable to continue the routine treatment of these patients along with training patients to stick to health protection instructions.  

کلیدواژه ها:

Covid۱۹ pandemic