In December 2019, the first cases of a new coronavirus infection (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) attributable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan, China. The virus has spread rapidly, reaching 225 countries and more than 5 million people as of May 21, 2020. In France, by the same date, 181 000 patients had tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 28 000 patients had died of COVID-19. In the pandemic context, populations at risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19 have begun to be identified.¹

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop evidence-based recommendations on pregnancy management for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Background: MS typically affects young women in their childbearing years. Increasing evidence is available to inform questions raised by MS patients and health professionals about pregnancy issues. Methods: The French Group for Recommendations in Multiple Sclerosis (France4MS) reviewed PubMed and university databases (January 1975 through June 2021). The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was developed to synthesise the scientific literature and expert opinions on healthcare topics; it was used to reach a formal agreement. Fifty-six MS experts worked on the full-text review and initial wording of recommendations. A group of 62 multidisciplinary healthcare specialists validated the final proposal of summarised evidence. Results: A strong agreement was reached for all 104 proposed recommendations. They cover diverse topics, such as pregnancy planning, follow-up during pregnancy and postpartum, delivery routes, locoregional analgesia or anaesthesia, prevention of postpartum relapses, breastfeeding, vaccinations, reproductive assistance, management of relapses and disease-modifying treatments. Conclusion: The 2022 recommendations of the French MS society should be helpful to harmonise counselling and treatment practice for pregnancy in persons with MS, allowing for better and individualised choices.

Objective To compare the humoral response after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving different disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). Methods Patients with MS with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and available anti–SARS-CoV-2 serology were included. The primary endpoint was the anti–SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) index. The multivariate analysis was adjusted for COVID-19 severity, SARS-CoV-2 PCR result, and the time between COVID-19 onset and the serology. Results We included 61 patients with available IgG index. The IgG index was lower in patients with fingolimod or anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies compared with patients without treatment (p < 0.01), patients with interferon β-1a or glatiramer (p < 0.01), and patients with another DMT (p = 0.01). The IgG index was correlated with the time between COVID-19 onset and serology (r = −0.296 [−0.510; −0.0477], p = 0.02). Conclusions Humoral response after COVID-19 was lower in patients with MS with fingolimod or anti-CD20 mAb. These patients could therefore be at risk of recurrent infection and could benefit from anti–SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The humoral response after vaccination and the delay before vaccination need to be evaluated. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class IV evidence that patients treated with fingolimod or anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies for MS have a lower humoral response after COVID-19 compared with patients without DMTs or with another DMTs.

Background: In 2020, the French Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society (SFSEP) decided to develop a national evidence-based consensus on pregnancy in MS. As neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) shares a series of commonalities with MS, but also some significant differences, specific recommendations had to be developed. Objectives: To establish recommendations on pregnancy in women with NMOSD. Methods: The French Group for Recommendations in Multiple Sclerosis (France4MS) reviewed PubMed and universities databases (January 1975 through June 2021). The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method, which was developed to synthesise the scientific literature and expert opinions on health care topics, was used to reach a formal agreement. Fifty-six MS experts worked on the full-text review and initial wording of recommendations. A sub-group of nine NMOSD experts was dedicated to analysing available data on NMOSD. A group of 62 multidisciplinary healthcare specialists validated the final proposal of summarised evidence. Results: A strong agreement was reached for all 66 proposed recommendations. They cover diverse topics, such as pregnancy planning, follow-up during pregnancy and postpartum, delivery routes, loco-regional analgesia or anaesthesia, prevention of postpartum relapses, breastfeeding, vaccinations, reproductive assistance, management of relapses, and disease-modifying treatments. Conclusion: Physicians and patients should be aware of the new and specific evidence-based recommendations of the French MS Society for pregnancy in women with NMOSD. They should help harmonise counselling and treatment practise, allowing for better individualised choices.