It is not the first investigation nor will it be the last that studies the effects that the coronavirus can have on the fetus to know how it affects it and thus know how to protect it. So far, few cases of vertical mother-child transmission have been found, so it has been determined that infection in the maternal uterus is rare although possible and, if the baby is infected, it does not usually present symptoms, although there are serious exceptions.
Cases of newborns with Covid antibodies have also been seen, when the mother suffered the infection during pregnancy, which gives rise to thinking about a possible immunization, although it is not known how long it may last and in which cases it occurs.
On the other hand, it has been shown that the placenta acts as a protective barrier for the baby during pregnancy, so it seemed logical to study whether it was possible that this organ could also isolate the fetus from SARS-CoV-2. And it seems that it is. A European study, in which the Hospital Vall de Hebron in Barcelona participates, has concluded that “although the virus can infect the placenta, in no case was there a vertical transmission from the mother to the newborn, which suggests that this organ it can be an effective barrier against the virus . “
No evidence of vertical transmission
The research, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), explored the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the placenta and newborns. 37 pregnant women in Italy who gave birth during the first wave of Covid-19 were studied, 21 of whom had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR testing.
The findings of a complete clinical, morphological, and molecular analysis of these cases show no evidence of vertical transmission in newborns. In fact, all of the women delivered live, asymptomatic newborns.
They only point out the exception of two cases. The first was a virus-negative pregnant woman who underwent labor induction for therapeutic miscarriage due to a chromosomal abnormality.
The second was an infant of a SARS-CoV-2 negative woman who showed perinatal asphyxia, requiring immediate mechanical ventilation and oxygen supplementation for the first 3 days of life, followed by seizure episodes and progressively improving neurological symptoms. In fact, the newborn was discharged at 27 days of life in good clinical condition.
A severe Covid infection can affect the placenta
However, the results also suggest that when the viral load in the placenta is very high, this organ continues to act as a barrier , but it can be “severely affected” and influence the development of the newborn. In this sense, study co-author Paolo Nuciforo from the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology points out:
“For the first time, we have established the presence of viral load in placental tissue using PCR detection and in situ hybridization, and we have shown that, although rare, SARS-CoV-2 can cause severe placental damage that can be harmful to the neonate.
In the case of the newborn who presented perinatal asphyxia and neurological complications, all of which were successfully treated, these problems were due to severe damage to the placenta caused by the virus.
Thus, it adds the need for further research to prevent possible damage to the placenta and protect the baby:
“We still don’t know how to more accurately identify these patients so that we can offer them alternative treatments that help prevent damage to the placenta. Therefore, more studies are required, including the development of possible biomarkers identified in blood samples from patients ”.
This international study has been a collaboration of researchers from the Milan Polyclinic, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology and Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) – Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) of Barcelona, and the University from Basel (Switzerland).
Via | Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Photos | iStock
In Babies and More | A mother vaccinated against Covid-19 during pregnancy transmitted virus antibodies to her baby, Placenta previa, aging and other complications of the placenta in pregnancy
