Sars-CoV-2 in pregnancy: Why is it better than expected?

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020 Sep:252:476-478. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.07.025. Epub 2020 Jul 24.

Abstract

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus disease in December 2019, information specific to pregnancy remains limited and controversial. Based on data from previous reports, it has been noticed that contrary to prior pandemics such as SARS, MERS and H1N1 and although pregnancy is usually considered as a condition of high susceptibility to viral infections, new SARS-CoV2 infection seems to have a more benign clinical course when affecting pregnant women. We speculate that during pregnancy the physiological "silencing" of the Th1 pro-inflammatory response may blunt the cytokines storm which is thought to play a key-role in the pathogenesis of the severe complications of Covid-19.

Keywords: Immunology; Inflammation; Pregnancy; Sars-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Cytokines