Christine Lebrun1, Sandra Vukusic2. 1. CRCSEP Côte d'Azur, CHU de Nice Pasteur, Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Nice, France. 2. Hospices Civils de Lyon, Service de Neurologie, sclérose en plaques, pathologies de la myéline et neuro-inflammation, 59 boulevard Pinel, F-69677 Bron, France; Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, INSERM 1028 et CNRS UMR 5292, F-69003 Lyon, France; Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, F-69000 Lyon, France; Eugène Devic EDMUS Foundation against multiple sclerosis, F-69677 Bron, France. Electronic address: sandra.vukusic@chu-lyon.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To establish recommendations on immunization for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) BACKGROUND: Vaccines have been suspected in the past to trigger MS and relapses. With the extension of the immunoactive treatment arsenal, other concerns have been raised more recently about an increased risk of infection or a decreased effectiveness of immunization in immunosuppressed patients. METHODS: The French Group for Recommendations into Multiple Sclerosis (France4MS) performed a systematic search of papers in Medline and other university databases (January 1975-June 2018). The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was chosen to review the scientific literature and to formalize the degree of agreement among experts on 5 clinical questions related to immunization and MS. Readers from the steering committee conducted a systematic analysis, wrote a critical synthesis and prepared a list of proposals that were evaluated by a rating group of 28 MS experts. The final version of the recommendations was finally reviewed by a reading group of 110 health care professionals and classified as appropriate, inappropriate or uncertain. RESULTS: Neurologists should verify the vaccination status as soon as MS is diagnosed and before disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) are introduced. The French vaccination schedule applies to MS patients and seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended. In the case of treatment-induced immunosuppression, MS patients should be informed about the risk of infection and the vaccination standards of the French High Council of Health should be applied. Live attenuated vaccines are contra-indicated in patients recently treated with immunosuppressive drugs, including corticosteroids; other vaccines can be proposed whatever the treatment, but their effectiveness may be partly reduced with some drugs. CONCLUSION: Physicians and patients should be aware of the updated recommendations for immunizations of patients with MS.
OBJECTIVES: To establish recommendations on immunization for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) BACKGROUND: Vaccines have been suspected in the past to trigger MS and relapses. With the extension of the immunoactive treatment arsenal, other concerns have been raised more recently about an increased risk of infection or a decreased effectiveness of immunization in immunosuppressed patients. METHODS: The French Group for Recommendations into Multiple Sclerosis (France4MS) performed a systematic search of papers in Medline and other university databases (January 1975-June 2018). The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was chosen to review the scientific literature and to formalize the degree of agreement among experts on 5 clinical questions related to immunization and MS. Readers from the steering committee conducted a systematic analysis, wrote a critical synthesis and prepared a list of proposals that were evaluated by a rating group of 28 MS experts. The final version of the recommendations was finally reviewed by a reading group of 110 health care professionals and classified as appropriate, inappropriate or uncertain. RESULTS: Neurologists should verify the vaccination status as soon as MS is diagnosed and before disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) are introduced. The French vaccination schedule applies to MS patients and seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended. In the case of treatment-induced immunosuppression, MS patients should be informed about the risk of infection and the vaccination standards of the French High Council of Health should be applied. Live attenuated vaccines are contra-indicated in patients recently treated with immunosuppressive drugs, including corticosteroids; other vaccines can be proposed whatever the treatment, but their effectiveness may be partly reduced with some drugs. CONCLUSION: Physicians and patients should be aware of the updated recommendations for immunizations of patients with MS.
Authors: Fabio Buttari; Antonio Bruno; Ettore Dolcetti; Federica Azzolini; Paolo Bellantonio; Diego Centonze; Roberta Fantozzi Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2021-05-04 Impact factor: 4.808