SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series

Abstract Introduction SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy may cause viral inflammation of the placenta, resulting in fetal demise even without fetal or newborn infection. The impact of timing of the infection and the mechanisms that cause fetal morbidity and mortality are not well understood. Mate...

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Main Authors: Stine Y. Nielsen, Lone E. Hvidman, Anna J. M. Aabakke, Tina E. Olsen, Iben B. G. Johnsen, Pauline W. Bogaard, Astrid Petersen, Hanne B. Westergaard, Anne Sørensen, Gitte Hedermann, Elisabeth T. Rønneberg, Dorthe Thisted, Jane Boris, Lise L. T. Andersen, Anne G. H. Eggers, Birgitte F. Lindved, Tine B. Henriksen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-05-01
Series:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14541
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author Stine Y. Nielsen
Lone E. Hvidman
Anna J. M. Aabakke
Tina E. Olsen
Iben B. G. Johnsen
Pauline W. Bogaard
Astrid Petersen
Hanne B. Westergaard
Anne Sørensen
Gitte Hedermann
Elisabeth T. Rønneberg
Dorthe Thisted
Jane Boris
Lise L. T. Andersen
Anne G. H. Eggers
Birgitte F. Lindved
Tine B. Henriksen
author_facet Stine Y. Nielsen
Lone E. Hvidman
Anna J. M. Aabakke
Tina E. Olsen
Iben B. G. Johnsen
Pauline W. Bogaard
Astrid Petersen
Hanne B. Westergaard
Anne Sørensen
Gitte Hedermann
Elisabeth T. Rønneberg
Dorthe Thisted
Jane Boris
Lise L. T. Andersen
Anne G. H. Eggers
Birgitte F. Lindved
Tine B. Henriksen
author_sort Stine Y. Nielsen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy may cause viral inflammation of the placenta, resulting in fetal demise even without fetal or newborn infection. The impact of timing of the infection and the mechanisms that cause fetal morbidity and mortality are not well understood. Material and methods To describe placental pathology from women with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy, a SARS‐CoV‐2 immunohistochemistry‐positive placenta and late miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or medically indicated birth due to fetal distress. Results The triad of trophoblastic necrosis, inflammatory intervillous infiltrates, and increased perivillous fibrinoid deposition was present in all 17 placentas; the pregnancies resulted in eight stillbirths, two late miscarriages (19 and 21 weeks’ gestation), and seven liveborn children, two of which died shortly after delivery. The severity of maternal COVID‐19 was not reflected by the extent of the placental lesions. In only one case, SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected in lung tissue samples from the fetus. The majority events (miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal distress resulting in indicated birth, or livebirth, but neonatal death) happened shortly after maternal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was diagnosed. Seven of eight sequenced cases were infected with the Delta (B.1.617.2) virus strain. Conclusion We consolidate findings from previous case series describing extensive SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and placental insufficiency leading to fetal hypoxia. We found sparse evidence to support the notion that SARS‐CoV‐2 virus had infected the fetus or newborn.
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spelling doaj-art-1f981e48dd6b4082878abf5dfc0a3dfd2025-08-20T02:36:39ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122023-05-01102556757610.1111/aogs.14541SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case seriesStine Y. Nielsen0Lone E. Hvidman1Anna J. M. Aabakke2Tina E. Olsen3Iben B. G. Johnsen4Pauline W. Bogaard5Astrid Petersen6Hanne B. Westergaard7Anne Sørensen8Gitte Hedermann9Elisabeth T. Rønneberg10Dorthe Thisted11Jane Boris12Lise L. T. Andersen13Anne G. H. Eggers14Birgitte F. Lindved15Tine B. Henriksen16Department of Clinical Microbiology Lillebaelt University Hospital Vejle DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Aarhus University Hospital Aarhus DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Copenhagen, Nordsjælland Hillerød DenmarkDepartment of Pathology Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Pathology Odense University Hospital Odense DenmarkDepartment of Pathology Aalborg University Hospital Aalborg DenmarkDepartment of Pathology Aalborg University Hospital Aalborg DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Copenhagen, Nordsjælland Hillerød DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Aalborg University Hospital Aalborg DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Herlev Hospital Herlev DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Copenhagen Holbæk DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Gødstrup Hospital Herning DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Odense University Hospital Odense DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Regional Hospital Horsens Horsens DenmarkDepartment of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Aarhus University Hospital Aarhus DenmarkAbstract Introduction SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy may cause viral inflammation of the placenta, resulting in fetal demise even without fetal or newborn infection. The impact of timing of the infection and the mechanisms that cause fetal morbidity and mortality are not well understood. Material and methods To describe placental pathology from women with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy, a SARS‐CoV‐2 immunohistochemistry‐positive placenta and late miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or medically indicated birth due to fetal distress. Results The triad of trophoblastic necrosis, inflammatory intervillous infiltrates, and increased perivillous fibrinoid deposition was present in all 17 placentas; the pregnancies resulted in eight stillbirths, two late miscarriages (19 and 21 weeks’ gestation), and seven liveborn children, two of which died shortly after delivery. The severity of maternal COVID‐19 was not reflected by the extent of the placental lesions. In only one case, SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected in lung tissue samples from the fetus. The majority events (miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal distress resulting in indicated birth, or livebirth, but neonatal death) happened shortly after maternal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was diagnosed. Seven of eight sequenced cases were infected with the Delta (B.1.617.2) virus strain. Conclusion We consolidate findings from previous case series describing extensive SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and placental insufficiency leading to fetal hypoxia. We found sparse evidence to support the notion that SARS‐CoV‐2 virus had infected the fetus or newborn.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14541COVID‐19placental insufficiencyplacentitispregnancySARS‐CoV‐2
spellingShingle Stine Y. Nielsen
Lone E. Hvidman
Anna J. M. Aabakke
Tina E. Olsen
Iben B. G. Johnsen
Pauline W. Bogaard
Astrid Petersen
Hanne B. Westergaard
Anne Sørensen
Gitte Hedermann
Elisabeth T. Rønneberg
Dorthe Thisted
Jane Boris
Lise L. T. Andersen
Anne G. H. Eggers
Birgitte F. Lindved
Tine B. Henriksen
SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
COVID‐19
placental insufficiency
placentitis
pregnancy
SARS‐CoV‐2
title SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series
title_full SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series
title_fullStr SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series
title_full_unstemmed SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series
title_short SARS‐CoV‐2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection: A Danish case series
title_sort sars cov 2 placentitis and severe pregnancy outcome after maternal infection a danish case series
topic COVID‐19
placental insufficiency
placentitis
pregnancy
SARS‐CoV‐2
url https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14541
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