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ACTRIMS 2022 | Humoral and cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with MS treated with DMTs

Most disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) administered to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), modulate or deplete immune cells, which could affect their response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Virginia Meca-Lallana, MD, La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid, Spain, explains a study analyzing the humoral and cellular immune response in patients with MS treated with different DMTs, after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The majority of the 80 patients were vaccinated with Pfizer, and some with Astra-Zeneca or Moderna. There was some degree of humoral immunity in 70% of patients, and 50% of patients showed cellular immunity. Dr Meca-Lallana mentions that the highest antibody titer was observed in patients treated with teriflunomide, alemtuzumab and cladribine, with no link to lymphocyte count. Patients treated with fingolimod presented low antibody titers, and the lowest antibody titer was seen in patients treated with anti-CD20 treatments. The highest percentage of cellular immunity, which is not associated with total lymphocyte count or CD4 lymphocytes, was measured in patients treated with teriflunomide, rituximab and cladribine. Overall, the study identified no link between eight DMTs and cellular or humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This interview took place at the ACTRIMS Forum 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida.