Does Ocrevus keep my wounds from healing easily?

Here is My Question:
Since starting Ocrevus, I find I don’t heal from even the most basic/superficial cut or scrape. Now, I am booked for a full abdominal surgery (complete hysterectomy, including ovaries and tubes) in a few weeks. Wondering how I will ever heal from this, if cuts/scrapes don’t heal well at all?

My last Ocrevus infusion was Sept 29th, and my surgery is Nov 22nd.

Thank you.

Answer:
It is certainly possible that Ocrelizumab or related anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapies could impair normal wound healing. Although there is no literature to support this hypothesis, there are also few if any studies in humans that have looked at this specific relationship. I assume you do not have other conditions (e.g. Diabetes) that can delay wound healing. Waiting 2 months for the surgery seems prudent given the information available; it is even better if you can wait 3 months for complete clearance of the ocrelizumab from your system. It is more important to avoid any corticosteroids because of the well demonstrated effect of steroids on the delayed healing of wounds. 

Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego

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