Intrauterine fetal death during COVID-19 pregnancy: Typical fetal heart rate changes, coagulopathy, and placentitis

Abstract

Although various perinatal outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pregnancies have been reported, the fetal and neonatal consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain unclear. Several reports of miscarriages and stillbirths have been recorded, but vertical transmission by SARS-CoV-2 is considered very rare, and the cause remains unknown. We report a case of a 22-year-old uncomplicated Japanese woman infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the second trimester, resulting in intrauterine fetal death due to placental insufficiency associated with COVID-19 placentitis. This report emphasizes the importance of longitudinal assessment of fetal well-being by fetal heart rate monitoring and early detection of maternal coagulation dysfunction representing SARS-CoV-2 inflammation to manage COVID-19 in pregnancy.

Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019; fetal heart rate monitoring; intrauterine fetal death; placentitis; pregnancy; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.