Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cladribine (CLAD), an immune reconstitution therapy for active multiple sclerosis (MS), can reduce intrathecal antibody production.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the long-term impact of oral CLAD on protective antibody levels, essential for preventing infections and immune defense.

DESIGN: Observational long-term study including a cohort of 15 CLAD-treated MS patients.

METHODS: We longitudinally studied the humoral immunity to seven common pathogens (measles, mumps, varicella-zoster virus, diphtheria and tetanus toxin, rubella, hepatitis B virus (HBV)) and absolute immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels prior to CLAD treatment (baseline, BL; 12/2017-03/2020) and after an average of 73 months (long-term) follow-up to explore the impact on pre-existing IgG. At long-term, we assessed IgG response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to evaluate potential inhibitory effects on the formation of new immunity.

RESULTS: We found no CLAD associated loss of humoral immunity over up to 7 years. Pathogen-specific IgG antibodies were present in 60%-100% and 67%-100% of patients at BL and long-term, respectively. We found no decline in absolute IgG levels 73 months after starting CLAD treatment. Patients who received subsequent anti-CD20 treatment had significantly lower SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels ( p  = 0.011) compared to the rest of the cohort, which developed adequate anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. One patient had a clinically silent tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) infection mounting appropriate IgG and IgM. No severe COVID-19 cases occurred, and no new safety concerns were identified.

CONCLUSION: These long-term data suggest that CLAD treatment does not impact preexisting humoral immunity or antibody production toward novel antigens. Our results support the positive long-term safety profile of the drug.