Every day, you hear about the most important measures to combat infection with SARS-CoV 2, namely the reduction of social contacts – I think this has arrived at everyone by now and people with MS should follow the guidelines just like everyone else.
Beyond that, it’s important – even as an MS patient – not to panic right now. The Corona virus is not a “killer virus” – in the vast majority of cases, it leads to a benign respiratory disease, in rare cases severe courses can also occur. These severe courses, even though they are rare in percentage terms, could overwhelm our health system if they occur relatively simultaneously – and then we would have conditions like in Italy, which we absolutely must avoid. Therefore, the measures are so drastic primarily to prevent the basic medical care from collapsing (because people are still having strokes, heart attacks and accidents these days) and every patient can get the optimal treatment he needs. This proactive approach should also reassure people with MS.
Accordingly, I would also like to emphasize again that existing MS therapies should be continued. Stopping without critical thinking and independently is not advisable. Even now, enough time should be taken to seek expert advice in case of uncertainty and concern. Of course, one cannot rule out a residual risk of the current MS therapies in relation to infections, but this applies not only in times of Corona. If the fears are too burdensome, there is always the possibility to discuss alternative, perhaps less fear-laden therapies with your neurologist, which can then be used as a bridge. So – always seek a conversation with your neurologist.
For cell-depleting therapies such as Ocrelizumab, it is often asked whether the upcoming infusion could be postponed. In principle, a postponement of a few weeks is possible and is also offered by us in the current phase – but at some point action must be taken. Because on the one hand, the effect of the medication is needed, and on the other hand, we should also avoid a backlog, for example, towards the end of the year, because the outpatient clinics also have limited capacities. This should also be kept in mind.
What about new settings? Here too, the needs of MS patients should not be ignored because of SARS-CoV 2. An active MS should also be rapidly and consistently subjected to therapy during these times, even if one should certainly orient oneself according to the current conditions when choosing a therapy. You can later switch to the “desired preparation” – in any case, such an approach is better than doing nothing. As I said, we should continue to adhere to our therapeutic principles.
Maybe one more recommendation in conclusion: Avoid overconsumption of news. A lot of information is currently being spread – sometimes also unreflected. Unfortunately, some media continue to try to increase circulation or interest through sensational headlines. This flood of news causes fear and often leads to unpleasant thought loops. I would recommend resorting to a strategy from the 80s – watch the news at 8 pm, there you will get all the information you need about the Corona pandemic.
