Hospitalisations and humoral COVID-19 vaccine response in vaccinated rituximab-treated multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with anti-CD20 therapies such as rituximab may have increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Vaccination induces protective immunity, but humoral vaccine response is known to be attenuated in rituximab-treated MS-patients-patients, which has indicated a need for real world data on severe morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 after vaccination.

Methods: Rituximab-treated patients treated at Haukeland University Hospital were identified through the National MS Registry and invited to participate in the study by giving a consent and providing a blood sample 3 weeks or later after ordinary COVID-19- vaccination, i.

Predictors of hospitalization due to infection in rituximab-treated MS patients.

Background: Rituximab is extensively used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), and long-term vigilance for adverse events is needed. This study was conducted to determine frequencies and predictors of hematological adverse events, including hypogammaglobulinemia, severe lymphopenia, neutropenia, and infections leading to hospitalization.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with MS initiating rituximab treatment at Haukeland University Hospital between January 1, 2017, and July 1, 2021.

Immunogenicity and Safety of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Dose in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Weak Immune Response After COVID-19 Vaccination.

This cohort study investigates the immunogenicity and safety of a third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose in patients with multiple sclerosis who had a weak immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

Humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in multiple sclerosis: the relevance of time since last rituximab infusion and first experience from sporadic revaccinations.

Introduction: The effect of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) on vaccine responses is largely unknown. Understanding the development of protective immunity is of paramount importance to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To characterise humoral immunity after mRNA-COVID-19 vaccination of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Safety and efficacy of rituximab as first- and second line treatment in multiple sclerosis - A cohort study.

Background: Rituximab is increasingly used as off-label therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS). More data are needed on safety and efficacy of rituximab, particularly in cohorts of de novo patients and patients in early therapy escalation.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of off-label treatment with rituximab in an MS-cohort of predominantly de novo patients or as therapy escalation.

A man in his seventies with spinal cord injury, fever and delirium.

Introduction: Spinal cord injury includes damage to the motor, sensory and autonomic nervous system.

Case Presentation: A man in his seventies was admitted to hospital after an acute traumatic incomplete cervical spinal cord injury. Over the following weeks, he experienced multiple febrile episodes with CRP elevated to 100 – >300 mg/L, but few other symptoms.