SARS-CoV-2 in MS [COVID-19}
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK MS population \n
IRAS ID
284940
Contact name
Ruth Dobson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
A large number of individuals with underlying health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), have been left uncertain as to whether their medical history, their previous or current treatments, or both, place them at increased risk of complications resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. There have been disagreements among MS experts about management and safety of disease modifying therapies (DMT) during this pandemic. \nThe UK MS Register is currently running a questionnaire-based study to establish rates of symptomatic COVID-19 in the UK MS population, along with evaluating the psychological impact of lockdown and behavioural changes. This effort could be considerably enhanced by prospectively collecting and storing dried blood spots (DBS) alongside current prospective data gathering, in order to better understand SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in this population. Dried blood spots are a form of biosampling where blood samples are blotted and dried on filter paper. Samples can be easily collected by patients in their own home and shipped to a laboratory for analysis. This study sets out to discriminate whether prospectively reported symptoms relate to COVID-19 by using DBS, and determine what proportion of the UK MS population have established immunity to SARS-CoV-2 without developing symptoms. \nIt additionally seeks to establish the utility of Dried Plasma Spots (DPS) for measuring serum neurofilament light (NfL) in MS, and examine whether these can be used to remotely assess MS disease activity. Similar to DBS for whole blood, Novoplex dried plasma spots (DPS) are microsampling tools for collecting plasma by using a fingerprick. DPS can be used to detect neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels. NfL levels in CSF increase during MS relapses, and this correlate with MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and clinical measures of disease activity. The ability to measure NfL in DPS has the potential to reduce the need for people with MS to attend for monitoring MRI scans and/or lumbar puncture.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0176
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion