Low-level SARS-CoV-2 viremia coincident with COVID placentitis and stillbirth

Placenta. 2022 Apr:121:79-81. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.003. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and COVID placentitis are associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. We sought to investigate the presence of maternal viremia in people with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy who had histologic placentitis versus those without placentitis. SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR was performed on plasma from 6 patients with COVID placentitis and 12 matched controls without placentitis. SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred between 4/2020-1/2021; the latency between SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and delivery was 0-76 days. Two placentitis cases demonstrated viremia (1 stillbirth and 1 well infant), while 12/12 controls were negative. Future research may consider viremia as a possible marker of COVID placentitis.

Keywords: COVID; Placentitis; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2; Stillbirth; Viremia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / pathology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Stillbirth
  • Viremia