To make an appointment please call the LSU Healthcare Network Clinic at:

(504) 412-1517

Fax: 
(504) 412-1518

Address:
LSU Healthcare Network
Neurology - 5th Floor
2025 Gravier Street
New Orleans, LA 70112

For directions

https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/neurology/faculty_detail.aspx/google1a54c608af510624.html

Address:
LSU Healthcare Network
Neurology - 5th Floor
478 S Johnson St
New Orleans, LA 70112

CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, NEUROMYELITIS OPTICA, OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES INFORMATION

Who is at higher risk of complications for the virus:

So far we are quite certain that three groups of people are at high risk of death from the virus.

1. Older people, people with heart disease and people with lung disease.
   • The risk of death increases with age
     • 40-49 — .40 percent
     • 50-59 — 1.3 percent
     • 60-69 — 4.6 percent
     • 70-79 — 9.8 percent
     • 80 & up — 18 percent
2. Patients with heart disease
3. Patients with chronic lung disease

We are not sure yet what happens to people with MS who contract the virus.

1. Patients with advanced multiple sclerosis who are bedbound, use wheelchairs, or have advanced disabilities are likely at higher risk. People with advanced disabilities may have difficulties coughing and breathing if they are infected, so they probably fall in the high risk of mortality group.
2. Patients taking one of the immunosuppressive disease-modifying therapies may also be at higher risk. Immunosuppressive disease-modifying therapies include:
   • Fingolimod/Gilenya®
   • Siponimod/Mayzent®
   • Mavenclad/Cladribine®
   • Alemtuzumab/Lemtrada®
   • Ocrelizumab/Ocrevus®
   • Rituximab/Rituxan®
   • Dimethyl fumarate/Tecfidera®
   • Teriflunomide/Aubagio®
   • Natalizumab/Tysabri®
3. Patients on injectable disease-modifying therapies most likely are at no increased risk. These DMT include
   • Interferon/ Betaseron®, Rebif®, Avonex®, Plegridy®
   • Glatiramer/Copaxone®

What should patients with MS do?

Everyone should be VERY cautious and avoid contracting the infection.

The main precautions are:

1. Washing your hands frequently.
   • Follow the CDC handwashing technique. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
   • Thirty seconds with soap and water.
   • Use a paper towel to close the faucet. Wash hands after contact with other people and when touching any surface.
2. Social distancing.
   • Avoid handshakes, hugs, kisses.
   • Avoid close contact with people in general, especially people who have a fever or cough.
   • Limit trips outside the house as much as possible.
   • Stand 6 ft away from others and avoid crowded places.
   • Use home delivery if available.
3. Do not touch your face.
4. Cover your cough or sneeze.
5. Postpone or cancel non-essential travel.
6. Sanitize surfaces daily.
7. Be prepared to self-isolate if you are ill or if anyone in your household is sick. Follow the CDC recommendations.

LSU Healthcare network:
 
We will continue to keep the clinic open but limit the visits to essential visits. We have the option of telehealth for your appointments. Please follow the instructions for installing the app and call the clinic to request your office visit changed to a telehealth visit. We will contact you before the appointment to see if you would prefer telehealth visits.

We have protocols in place to prevent contact with other people that could have the disease. We will ask you to wait in your car, if this is possible for you, until we are ready to see you so that we can minimize your exposure to others.

Coronavirus testing:
 
We will don't have the capability to test patients at our clinic yet. West Jefferson has a drive-through testing facility. This is your best option for getting tested at this time if you only have a high fever and coughing https://www.wjmc.org/coronavirus/. Please follow the instructions on the West Jeff website to make sure you meet the criteria for testing. The criteria are changing day by day depending on the number of tests available and the evolution of the situation.

You can also get tested at one of the OCHSNER COVID-19 TEST SITES

https://news.ochsner.org/news-releases/ochsner-health-statement-re-covid-19-test-sites

• Bayou Region

Ochsner Urgent Care – Houma

5922 W. Main St., Suite A

Houma, LA 70360

• Northshore

Ochsner Urgent Care – Mandeville

2735 US-190, Suite D

Mandeville, LA 70471

• New Orleans

Ochsner Urgent Care - Mid-City at Canal

4100 Canal St, New Orleans

New Orleans, LA 70119

If you are having shortness of breath you have to go to ER.

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#protect

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-you-need-to-know-about-Coronavirus-(COVID-19)

https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/2020/03/covid-19-and-dmts/