Clinical symptoms associated with laboratory findings and placental histopathology in full-term, non-infected neonates born to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive mothers.

This study comprehensively examines clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and placental pathology in 40 cases of singleton full-term SARS-CoV-2 negative neonates. Their mothers, previously healthy, with uncomplicated pregnancies, were infected peripartum and presented COVID-19 symptoms of various severity. Neonates had predominately diarrhea, the yet unreported absent sucking reflex, elevated COVID-19 inflammatory and ischemia/asphyxia markers as serum ferritin, interleukin-6 and cardiac troponin-T, while placentas demonstrated mild vascular and/or inflammatory lesions. We hypothesize that the above placental lesions may be associated with transient perinatal hypoxia resulting in absent sucking reflex, as well as with inflammatory cytokines transfer causing diarrhea.