Demographic and clinical profile of pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis infected with sars-cov2

ABSTRACT

Background: COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS CoV2, causes severe respiratory disease, and rarely multisystem inflammatory syndrome, in some pediatric patients. Little is known about the disease course among patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Objectives: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of a subgroup of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) patients infected with SARS CoV2. Methods: The Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers (NPMSC), a consortium of 10 US pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) centers contributes clinical information about POMS patients and demyelinating disorders to a centralized database, the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Database (PeMSDD), to facilitate research for this rare disorder. In addition to collecting clinical data on clinical course, comorbidities, disease modifying therapy use, and functional status, the NPMSC developed a screening questionnaire to administer to patients during standard of care visits to further evaluate their COVID- 19 status. Additionally POMS patients with confirmed or highly suspected COVID-19, will be assessed for risk factors including smoking use, recent glucocorticoid use, comorbidities;clinical presentation, including symptoms, radiological and laboratory data;COVID-19 treatments and outcomes. POMS patients will also complete the COViMS (COVID-19 Infections in MS & Related Diseases) database, a joint effort of the US National MS Society and the Consortium of MS Centers to capture information on outcomes of people with MS and other central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating diseases (Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease, or MOG antibody disease) who have developed COVID- 19. Together with data collected from the PeMSDD, we will present comprehensive data on the POMS patient experience with COVID- 19 and compare it to POMS patients without known or suspected COVID-19. Results: Data collection continues. Results available by the meeting due date will describe the demographics, risk factors, treatments and outcomes of POMS with COVID-19. Conclusions: will be drawn pending results of data analysis. We anticipate reporting on demographic data, risk factors, outcomes and any associations with disease modifying therapy.