Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?

Dear Editor, Microcephaly (MC) is defined as a head circumference with a standard deviation score (SDS) below -2 according to some experts and below -3 according to others (1-3). In our clinic, we use the criterion of head circumference below -2 SDS to define MC. MC can be classified as primary if p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gonca Keskindemirci, Alev Bakır Kayı, Öykü Özbörü Aşkan, Emine Gülbin Gökçay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2024-12-01
Series:Çocuk Dergisi
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/BE344E59176E454E8F5736F869021A90
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849313258173890560
author Gonca Keskindemirci
Alev Bakır Kayı
Öykü Özbörü Aşkan
Emine Gülbin Gökçay
author_facet Gonca Keskindemirci
Alev Bakır Kayı
Öykü Özbörü Aşkan
Emine Gülbin Gökçay
author_sort Gonca Keskindemirci
collection DOAJ
description Dear Editor, Microcephaly (MC) is defined as a head circumference with a standard deviation score (SDS) below -2 according to some experts and below -3 according to others (1-3). In our clinic, we use the criterion of head circumference below -2 SDS to define MC. MC can be classified as primary if present at birth, or as secondary if it develops postnatally (2, 4, 5). Several risk factors have been associated with MC, including genetic disorders, teratogenic exposure, maternal age, maternal phenylketonuria, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Keskindemirci et al. also highlighted that socioeconomic factors may play a role in the risk of MC (6). Among these, maternal infections during pregnancy are the leading causes of microcephaly, with Rubella, Zika virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) being the most recognized infectious etiologies (2, 4).The impact of COVID-19 on fetal development during pregnancy has not been fully elucidated. There are reports in the literature suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may lead to complications (7). We read with interest the recent article by Edlow et al., which concluded that “COVID-19 exposure may be associated with neurodevelopmental changes and highlights the need for prospective investigation of outcomes in children exposed to COVID-19 in utero” (8). Moreover, Auger et al., in their time series analysis, observed an increased frequency of microcephaly during the COVID-19 pandemic period (9).
format Article
id doaj-art-00a73062b4b143b594f73f8a526a59f9
institution Kabale University
issn 1308-8491
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Istanbul University Press
record_format Article
series Çocuk Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-00a73062b4b143b594f73f8a526a59f92025-08-20T03:52:48ZengIstanbul University PressÇocuk Dergisi1308-84912024-12-0124425525610.26650/jchild.2024.1557648123456Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?Gonca Keskindemirci0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1797-2802Alev Bakır Kayı1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0664-5822Öykü Özbörü Aşkan2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4139-5497Emine Gülbin Gökçay3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1042-0407İstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiyeİstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiyeİstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiyeİstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, TürkiyeDear Editor, Microcephaly (MC) is defined as a head circumference with a standard deviation score (SDS) below -2 according to some experts and below -3 according to others (1-3). In our clinic, we use the criterion of head circumference below -2 SDS to define MC. MC can be classified as primary if present at birth, or as secondary if it develops postnatally (2, 4, 5). Several risk factors have been associated with MC, including genetic disorders, teratogenic exposure, maternal age, maternal phenylketonuria, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Keskindemirci et al. also highlighted that socioeconomic factors may play a role in the risk of MC (6). Among these, maternal infections during pregnancy are the leading causes of microcephaly, with Rubella, Zika virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) being the most recognized infectious etiologies (2, 4).The impact of COVID-19 on fetal development during pregnancy has not been fully elucidated. There are reports in the literature suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may lead to complications (7). We read with interest the recent article by Edlow et al., which concluded that “COVID-19 exposure may be associated with neurodevelopmental changes and highlights the need for prospective investigation of outcomes in children exposed to COVID-19 in utero” (8). Moreover, Auger et al., in their time series analysis, observed an increased frequency of microcephaly during the COVID-19 pandemic period (9).https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/BE344E59176E454E8F5736F869021A90
spellingShingle Gonca Keskindemirci
Alev Bakır Kayı
Öykü Özbörü Aşkan
Emine Gülbin Gökçay
Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?
Çocuk Dergisi
title Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?
title_full Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?
title_fullStr Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?
title_full_unstemmed Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?
title_short Can SARS-CoV-2 Be a Potential Cause of Microcephaly?
title_sort can sars cov 2 be a potential cause of microcephaly
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/BE344E59176E454E8F5736F869021A90
work_keys_str_mv AT goncakeskindemirci cansarscov2beapotentialcauseofmicrocephaly
AT alevbakırkayı cansarscov2beapotentialcauseofmicrocephaly
AT oykuozboruaskan cansarscov2beapotentialcauseofmicrocephaly
AT eminegulbingokcay cansarscov2beapotentialcauseofmicrocephaly