TEMPORARY REMOVAL: Immunization and multiple sclerosis: Recommendations from the French Multiple Sclerosis Society

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 riskof infectionor 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 committeeconducted 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 scheduleapplies to MS patients and seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended. In the case of treatment-induced immunosuppression, MS patients should be informed about the riskof infectionand the vaccination standards of the French High Council of Health should be applied. Live attenuated vaccinesare 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.