Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body due to immune attacks on axons and myelin in the central nervous system. Below are COVID news and research updates that specifically relate to MS.

~89% of Those with Chronic Inflammatory Conditions Produce Antibodies Following Vaccination, Despite Immunosuppressant Usage

The Washington University School of Medicine is conducting a study called COVaRiPAD (COVID-19 Vaccine Responses in Patients with Autoimmune Disease). The team just published research looking at the effect of immunosuppression on the efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. They found that 88.7% of patients with chronic inflammatory conditions* (CID), including rheumatoid arthritis (28.5%), Crohn’s disease (16.5%), spondyloarthritis (15%), ulcerative colitis (13.5%), systemic lupus erythematosus (11.3%), multiple sclerosis (6.8%), and sjögrens syndrome (6%), produced detectable antibodies in response to the vaccine.

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Antibody Development Following COVID Vaccine in Autoimmune Disease Patients

A study coming from the Netherlands looks at the immune response following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune disease, focusing specifically on the effects of different immunosuppressive drugs on antibody development. Researchers used serum samples from 289 patients without autoimmune disease, who served as the control group, and 632 patients with autoimmune disease (including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematous and multiple sclerosis). The mean age of participants was 63 years and 57% of participants were female.

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