RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Impact of COVID-19 in Immunosuppressed Children With Neuroimmunologic Disorders
JF Neurology - Neuroimmunology Neuroinflammation
JO Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP e1101
DO 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001101
VO 9
IS 1
A1 Olivé-Cirera, Gemma
A1 Fonseca, Elianet
A1 Cantarín-Extremera, Verónica
A1 Vázquez-López, María
A1 Jiménez-Legido, María
A1 González-Álvarez, Verónica
A1 Ribeiro-Constante, Juliana
A1 Camacho-Salas, Ana
A1 Martí, Itxaso
A1 Cancho-Candela, Ramon
A1 Martínez-González, María Jesús
A1 Saiz, Albert
A1 Armangué, Thaís
YR 2022
UL http://nn.neurology.org/content/9/1/e1101.abstract
AB Background and Objectives To investigate whether children receiving immunosuppressive therapies for neuroimmunologic disorders had (1) increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection or to develop more severe forms of COVID-19; (2) increased relapses or autoimmune complications if infected; and (3) changes in health care delivery during the pandemic.Methods Patients with and without immunosuppressive treatment were recruited to participate in a retrospective survey evaluating the period from March 14, 2020, to March 30, 2021. Demographics, clinical features, type of immunosuppressive treatment, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the patients or cohabitants, and changes in care delivery were recorded.Results One hundred fifty-three children were included: 84 (55%) female, median age 13 years (interquartile range [8–16] years), 79 (52%) on immunosuppressive treatment. COVID-19 was suspected or confirmed in 17 (11%) (all mild), with a frequency similar in patients with and without immunosuppressive treatment (11/79 [14%] vs 6/74 [8%], p = 0.3085). The frequency of neurologic relapses was similar in patients with (18%) and without (21%) COVID-19. Factors associated with COVID-19 included having cohabitants with COVID-19 (p < 0.001) and lower blood levels of vitamin D (p = 0.039). Return to face-to-face schooling or mask type did not influence the risk of infection, although 43(28%) children had contact with a classmate with COVID-19. Clinic visits changed from face to face to remote for 120 (79%) patients; 110 (92%) were satisfied with the change.Discussion In this cohort of children with neuroimmunologic disorders, the frequency of COVID-19 was low and not affected by immunosuppressive therapies. The main risk factors for developing COVID-19 were having cohabitants with COVID-19 and low vitamin D levels.IVIg=IV immunoglobulin; MS=multiple sclerosis; PIMS=pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome