Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19

In addition to the various neurologic effects of COVID-19 that we are still striving to understand, there is the question of the virus' impact on people who already have a neurologic disorder such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or multiple sclerosis (MS). I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Stephen Krieger on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on people with MS for ReachMD.com. Dr. Krieger is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, NY. During our 14-minute interview, Dr. Krieger shared his first-hand experience in treating patients with MS who also have COVID-19. We also discussed changes in doctor-patient interaction and alterations in MS therapy in response to the pandemic. For example, Dr. Krieger's institution has embraced telehealth for routine visits and also modified some drug regimens to diminish the frequency that patients must come to the hospital for infusions. We addressed other topics such as the effects of immunosuppressive therapy on susceptibility to viral infection, the use of oral vs. intravenous steroids, the impact of the virus on clinical research, and the safety of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Thanks very much to Dr. Krieger for taking the time to share his expertise in MS management. #COVID-19 multiplesclerosis #vaccines #SARS-CoV-2 #MScenter #mstherapy