Key clinical point : Invasive fungal infections, though rare, have been observed in multiple sclerosis patients using a range of disease-modifying treatments and should be suspected in patients presenting with signs of infection.
Major finding : The overall occurrence of invasive fungal infections in patients with multiple sclerosis on disease-modifying treatments was low, but monoclonal antibodies were associated with higher rates of infection. The most common infection sources were Aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitidis .
Study details : The data come from a meta-analysis of patients treated with rituximab, ocrelizumab, alemtuzumab, fingolimod, natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate, interferon, glatiramer acetate, cladribine, teriflunomide.
Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. Lead author Dr. Scotto had no financial conflicts to disclose; several coauthors disclosed relationships with companies including Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi-Genzyme.
Source: Scotto R et al. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2021 Apr 21. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2021.1918673.