Covid-19 in a patient with multiple sclerosis treated with natalizumab: May the blockade of integrins have a protective role?

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Sep:44:102250. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102250. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Abstract

The disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is currently spread worldwide . Recent data supports SARS-CoV-2 may use integrins to enter human cells. Therefore, anti-integrins therapies might be an alternative against the infection . Natalizumab, approved for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) treatment, acts blocking α4-integrin. We report a MS patient treated with natalizumab who develops COVID-19, with excellent recovery and repeated negative results in 5 consecutive microbiological studies. We postulate this may be due to the blockade of integrins induced by natalizumab.

Keywords: COVID-19; Integrins; Multiple Sclerosis; Natalizumab; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Integrin alpha4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Natalizumab / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Natalizumab
  • Integrin alpha4