Cerebrospinal fluid analysis of pregnant women at early stages of COVID-19

Lizandra Paravidine Sasaki; Geraldo Magela Fernandes; Angelo Pereira da Silva; Felipe Motta; Clara Siracusa; Isadora Pastrana Rabelo; Agenor Dos Santos Junior; Paulo Sergio França; Patricia Kurisky; Rosana Maria Tristao; Cleandro de Albuquerque; Ciro Gomes; Licia Maria da Mota; Alberto Zaconeta

doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2022.03.043

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis of pregnant women at early stages of COVID-19

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jul;61(4):672-674. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog.2022.03.043. Epub 2022 May 23.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. Electronic address: lizandra.sasaki@ebserh.gov.br.
² Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Department of Pediatrics, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
⁴ Regional Hospital of Asa Norte, Health Department, Brasília, Brazil.
⁵ Central Laboratory of Public Health of the Federal District, Brasília, Brazil.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
⁷ Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 in the cerebrospinal fluid of pregnant women at early stages of COVID-19.

Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective observational study with pregnant women undergoing cesarean section and real-time polymerase chain reaction to SARS-CoV-2 was performed in the cerebrospinal fluid in the early stages of COVID-19.

Results: Fourteen pregnant women, whose COVID-19 symptoms started between four to 18 days prior to delivery, were included. Eleven of the women reported anosmia, dysgeusia, and headaches and there were two fatal cases. SARS-Cov-2 was not present in the cerebrospinal fluid of these COVID-19 patients with early neurological symptoms, even in severe cases.

Conclusion: Our study suggests that peripheric cell damage and parainfectious phenomena may predominate over direct central nervous system injury in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 related early neurological symptoms on pregnant women.

Keywords: COVID-19; Inflammation; Neurology; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Cesarean Section
Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women*
SARS-CoV-2