Multiple Sclerosis Understanding and Health Measures

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)?

Nerves in our body are covered by a sheath (myelin) which not only acts as a protective covering but also makes the transmission of impulses faster and more effective. In MS, this protective sheath is damaged resulting in the nerves getting exposed and inflamed, and communication between the brain and different parts of the body getting affected. The cause postulated is the abnormal reaction by the body’s immune system (autoimmune response) which attacks and damages this protective sheath. Other examples of autoimmune diseases include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MS?

The symptoms can vary from person to person according to nerves affected and progression of the disease. Symptoms may start with numbness, weakness, and tingling on one side and progress to tremors, lack of steadiness and co-ordination of movements (ataxia), difficulty in walking, dizziness, slurred speech and significant fatigue. An electric shock-like feeling while moving the neck, and burning pain or touch-temperature sensitivity in the limbs may be seen. Eye problems like blurring, double vision, pain on eye movements and even complete/partial loss of vision may also be manifesting symptoms.

Severe symptoms and complications include muscle spasms and leg paralysis, disturbed functioning of bowel and bladder, affected sexual function, sometimes seizures, as well as mental health issues like depression, mood swings and memory lapses.

The disease can have episodes of ‘flare-up’ when symptoms are strong, followed by prolonged periods of remission and control. However, with progression, the disease may eventually show constant symptoms. While MS can affect anyone, the risk is higher if one has another auto-immune disease or a family history of MS. Smokers have a tendency for more recurrent flare-up’.

HOW IS MS TREATED?

Diagnostic tests used for MS include brain scans (MRI), blood tests to rule out other or co-existing health conditions, and sometimes a spinal tap to test for specific antibodies.

Though there is no cure, MS may be controlled to improve quality of life through a holistic approach of lifestyle modification, and medicines.

Lifestyle modification

The following factors may help in coping better with MS-

• Being in cool environments
• Adequate rest and sleep
• Exercises like walking, stretching, swimming, cycling, yoga or aerobics. Physical and occupational therapy for these strengthening and stretching exercise schedules is recommended
• Stress management, relaxation techniques and hobbies.
• Support groups and counseling
• Nutritious diet with vitamin D supplementation

Medical therapy

Medicines are given firstly for controlling the inflammation during flare-up periods, secondly to control and improve symptoms, and thirdly to reduce relapses and slow the progression of the disease (DMT- Disease-Modifying Therapy).

For controlling the inflammation, medicines like corticosteroids are usually used.

Some medicines may be prescribed to control a particular prominent symptom like muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, medicines to improve sleep, bladder or bowel function, reduce fatigue and increase walking speed.

Medicines to slow the progression of disease (DMT) include:

Oral drugs

• Sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor modulators: fingolimod, siponimod, ozanimod, and ponesimod (USFDA approved March 2021)
• Fumarates: dimethyl fumarate, monoethyl fumarate 
• Others -Teriflunomide (pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor), cladribine (purine antimetabolite)

Injected drugs 

• Peginterferon beta-1a and 1b
• Glatiramer acetate (injected into skin/muscle)
• Cladribine (IV infusion)
• Biologicals (Monoclonal Antibody agents -MAbs): ocrelizumab, alemtuzumab, ofatumumab (USFDA approved August 2020), rituximab, and natalizumab.

These medicines given in MS act as immune-suppressive agents and therefore patients taking them should be protected for and monitored for infections. Drugs used in MS may have side effects, therefore they should be taken only under the guidance of a Neurologist.

Procedures that are used to treat MS patients include autologous hematopoietic stem cell treatment (aHSCT) which is intensive chemotherapy combined with reinfusion of blood stem cells to rebuild the immune system and plasmapheresis which is a technique of plasma (fluid and protein component of blood) exchange.

PRECAUTIONS AND CARE FOR MS PATIENTS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC 

All people with MS are advised to pay attention to and follow guidelines for reducing the risk of infection with COVID. Older people with MS, especially those who also have lung or heart diseases should take extra care to minimize their exposure to the virus.

Precautions: The World Health Organization recommendations include:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth unless hands are clean
• Keep at least 1-meter distance between yourself and others, particularly those who are coughing and sneezing
• When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue
• Practice food safety by using different chopping boards for raw meat and cooked foods and wash your hands between handling them.
• Avoid public gatherings and crowds, and use of public transport
• Where possible, use alternatives to face-to-face routine medical appointments (for example, tele-consults/video consult)
• Caregivers and family members who live with, or regularly visit, a person with MS should also follow these recommendations to reduce the chance of bringing COVID-19 infection into the home
• People with MS who are currently taking DMTs like alemtuzumab, cladribine, ocrelizumab, rituximab, fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide or siponimod and are living in a community with a COVID-19 outbreak should isolate as much as possible to reduce their risk of infection.

Modification and monitoring of MS treatment: People with MS currently taking DMTs continue with their treatment but therapy may need modification if symptomatic or tested positive for COVID.

• People who develop symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for the infection should discuss their MS therapies with their MS care provider or another health care professional who is familiar with their care. If an MS patient is infected with COVID-19, then it is recommended stopping your DMT [injectable or oral] or delaying the next IV infusion. The MS specialist or Neurologist will advise when it is safe to restart DMT.
• If someone was diagnosed with MS and is planning to choose between various DMT some are safer than others. Before starting on any new DMT, people with MS should discuss with their healthcare professional which therapy is the best choice for their individual disease course and disease activity in light of COVID-19 risk in the region.
• One should consider selecting a treatment that does not reduce specific immune cells (lymphocytes) like interferons, glatiramer acetate, or natalizumab, and avoid medications that reduce lymphocytes over longer intervals like alemtuzumab, cladribine, ocrelizumab and rituximab.
• If already taking a DMT during this pandemic, do not change or stop your medication without first speaking to your MS team. If you have an appointment to come to the hospital for a review or treatment, and you have cough, high temperature or shortness of breath please do not come to the hospital, but contact your MS team for advice
• If you are on interferon beta 1a or 1b, glatiramer, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate or natalizumab, please continue to take these drugs. They do not significantly increase the risk of systemic viral infections
• If you are on fingolimod (or siponimod, ozanimod), please be aware that the risk of viral infections is moderately increased, making you more prone to coronavirus infection and its complications. For most people on fingolimod, this risk is outweighed by its effectiveness in controlling their MS. So, we recommend most people continue on fingolimod and not to stop it without speaking to your MS team, because there is a risk that MS will become active and cause relapses in the weeks after stopping the drug.
• Recommendations on delaying second or further doses of alemtuzumab, cladribine, ocrelizumab and rituximab due to the COVID-19 outbreak differ between countries. People who take these medications and are due for the next dose should consult their healthcare professional about the risks and benefits of postponing treatment.
• Autologous hematopoietic stem cell treatment (aHSCT) severely weakens the immune system for a period of time. People who have recently undergone this treatment should extend the period they remain in isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak. People who are due to undergo treatment should consider postponing the procedure in consultation with their healthcare professional.

COVID vaccination in people with MS: People with MS should be vaccinated against COVID as soon as available.

• COVID vaccines have not shown any evidence of increasing MS complications, worsening or relapse.
• People with MS should avoid receiving live attenuated vaccines. As none of the currently available COVID vaccines are live vaccines, any of these vaccines, whichever immediately available (whether mRNA, adenoviral vector, killed-inactivated or protein subunit) can be taken.
• Some of drugs used in MS may decrease or dampen the immune response to the COVID vaccines. These may be high dose steroids, or DMT drugs that include the sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor modulators (fingolimod, siponimod, ozanimod), and more so with cladribine, and biologicals alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab and rituximab. Vaccination is safe and still the most effective way of protection against severe COVID and its complications in people with MS on these medicines. It is best to consult your neurologist to guide you on the timing and schedule of the mentioned drugs and the COVID vaccination.

Dr. Praveen Gupta is a renowned Neurologist, and currently the Director and HOD of Neurology at Fortis Hospital and Research Institute at Gurugram, India. He has established two Neurology departments in Paras and Artemis corporate hospitals. He also started the first Stroke center in Gurgaon, was the first to use solitaire for mechanical thrombolysis and started DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) for epilepsy in Asia. He is frequently invited as speaker for advanced interventions in all kinds of stroke, botox, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. He has been recognized by Forbes India as one of the Most Influential Global Healthcare Leaders in India.

Further reading-

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease – Awareness, Understanding and Solutions

Epilepsy – Understanding Seizures, its types and management

Understanding Tremors – Parkinson’s Disease and Other Conditions

COVID Vaccines – Important Points

COVID Treatment and Medical Care

References-

COVID management and vaccination in MS

WHO COVID-19 Precautions