Placental Injury and Antibody Transfer after Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pregnancy

J Infect Dis. 2023 Apr 12;227(7):850-854. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac270.

Abstract

Background: We examined the relationship between placental histopathology and transplacental antibody transfer in pregnant patients after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Methods: Differences in plasma concentrations of anti-receptor biding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies in maternal and cord blood were analyzed according to presence of placental injury.

Results: Median anti-RBD IgG concentrations in cord blood with placental injury (n = 7) did not differ significantly from those without injury (n = 16) (median 2.7 [interquartile range {IQR}, 1.8-3.6] vs 2.7 [IQR, 2.4-2.9], P = 0.59). However, they were associated with lower transfer ratios (median 0.77 [IQR, 0.61-0.97] vs 0.97 [IQR, 0.80-1.01], P = 0.05).

Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 placental injury may mediate reduced maternal-fetal antibody transfer.

Keywords: COVID-19; antibody transfer; placenta; pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Placenta
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Viral