COVID 19 (Coronavirus)
There are ever changing recommendations for treatment of active COVID 19 infection and preventative treatments. Our physicians, research staff and other providers work quickly to review this information and make changes to disease modifying therapies and/or increase access to these CDC recommendations.
For updated UPMC masking and COVID-19 guidelines please visit this website COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions | UPMC.
Coronavirus Risk for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS itself does not increase the risk of getting COVID-19. However, certain factors associated with your MS may increase your risk for complications:
- Chronic medical conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and asthma
- Significantly restricted mobility, such as needing to spend most of your day seated or in bed
- Age 65 or older
- Possibly taking certain disease modifying therapies that deplete immune system cells
- severe obesity or BMI higher than 40
- Living in a long-term care facility
Sometimes, the body's response to infections, including COVD-19, may cause a temporary worsening of MS symptoms. Typically, these symptoms settle down once the infection clears up. If you are experiencing new MS symptoms or have any concerns about any of your MS symptoms, please contact your MS healthcare provider.
Please see the link below to the National MS Society for information related to each specific disease modifying medications. Please see the link below to the CDC for further local general guidelines for COVID.