Researchers assessed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and their vulnerable to infections, including COVID-19, due to the disease and treatments compromising their immune system. This vulnerability is exacerbated by age, frailty, comorbidities, and treatments like immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors (PIs), CD38-directed monoclonal antibodies, and BCMA-directed therapies, which further weaken the immune response to pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted patients with MM, who are at increased risk for severe outcomes.

SARS-CoV-2 variants pose ongoing challenges, with the newer strains causing concern about vaccine effectiveness and treatment efficacy. Patients with MM, particularly those undergoing certain therapies like anti-BCMA treatments, show suboptimal vaccine response and heightened risk of severe COVID-19. To mitigate this, vaccination, including booster shots, is crucial, though effectiveness varies based on treatment regimens and patient factors. Oral antivirals and remdesivir have proven effective in treating COVID-19 in patients with MM, but options like convalescent plasma are not recommended due to limited data. The management of MM during COVID-19 requires personalized approaches, considering factors such as disease status, treatment, and vaccination. Emerging strategies like artificial neural networks may soon aid in predicting outcomes for patients with MM and COVID-19.

Reference: Terpos E, Musto P, Engelhardt M, et al. Management of patients with multiple myeloma and COVID-19 in the post pandemic era: a consensus paper from the European Myeloma Network (EMN). Leukemia. 2023 Jun;37(6):1175-1185. doi: 10.1038/s41375-023-01920-1. Epub 2023 May 4. PMID: 37142661; PMCID: PMC10157596.