Elsevier

Placenta

Volume 106, March 2021, Pages 25-29
Placenta

Investigating the risk of maternal-fetal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2021.02.006Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Maternal-fetal transmission of COVID-19 is an important concern for pregnancy.

  • The evidence of intrauterine vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is still unclear.

  • COVID-19 infection can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Abstract

Introduction

The possibility of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the mother to the fetus is one of the most crucial issues regarding the COVID-19 effects on pregnancy. In this study, we aimed to explore the risk of maternal-fetal transmission before 24 weeks of gestation, through analysis of abortion materials collected from PCR-positive women with pregnancy loss. To the best of our knowledge, apart from case reports, this study is the first prospective work on the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy.

Methods

The patients who had attended our clinic with the diagnosis of pregnancy loss before 24 weeks of gestation were screened for COVİD-19. Vertical transmission in PCR-positive women was assessed through the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in fetal-placental tissues by rt-PCR test.

Results

24 of 210 (%11,4) pregnant women participating in the study had positive rt-PCR results. Placenta and curettage material samples of these PCR-positive patients were analyzed and all valid test results (21 samples) were negative for SARS CoV-2 RNA. In three cases, the rt-PCR results were invalid due to failed internal controls.

Discussion

In the literature, the possibility of intrauterine vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is still controversial. The findings of the present study did not reveal any evidence of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
Maternal-fetal transmission
Early pregnancy
rt-PCR
Placenta

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