Evaluation of the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD

Abstract

Introduction Vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recommended for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). However, vaccine safety in these patients taking immunotherapeutic agents is unclear as they were not included in the vaccine trials. Objectives To evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD. Methods We reviewed the medical records of MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD patients at the Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital. Information regarding vaccination schedules and adverse events was collected. Results A total of 56 patients (19, 22, and 15 patients with MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD, respectively) with a median age of 48.18 ± 15.72 years (range, 16–81 years) were included. Of them, 42 (75.0%) were female. In total, 76.8% (43/56) of all patients were vaccinated, and the vaccination rate was the highest for NMOSD patients (81.8%) and the lowest for MS patients (68.4%). All vaccinated patients were administered mRNA vaccines at least once in single or multiple vaccination doses. Only 3 of 43 (7.0%) vaccinated patients experienced clinical relapse following vaccination. Facial sensory changes with a brainstem lesion developed in an MS patient taking dimethyl fumarate, while myelitis occurred in a MOGAD patient receiving azathioprine maintenance therapy. The first episode of optic neuritis occurred in a patient who was later diagnosed with MOGAD. Conclusions Our study demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines in patients with MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD.