Impact of COVID-19 infection on placental histopathology and maternal-perinatal outcomes: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a broad spectrum of clinical outcomes and, unlike other coronaviruses, poses significant risks during pregnancy. A primary concern is the potential for vertical transmission from mother to fetus, affecting both maternal and fetal health.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the placental histopathology and maternal-perinatal outcomes in mothers infected with COVID-19.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 40 pregnant women referred to Ganjavian hospital, Dezful, Iran for delivery from June-October 2021 were enrolled in 2 groups: group I who were women with COVID-19 on the day of delivery (n = 30) and group II who were women without COVID-19 (n = 10). Placental tissue samples were collected post-delivery to assess histopathological changes and placental weight. Additionally, maternal and neonatal characteristics including maternal age, the number of prior deliveries and pregnancies, gestational age, 1- and 5-min Apgar scores, and maternal oxygen administration, mode of delivery, and neonatal COVID-19 test results, were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between the groups regarding maternal age, gestational age, parity, Apgar scores, placental weight, oxygen therapy, or delivery method. However, group I showed significantly higher rates of placental abnormalities such as intravillous fetal thrombosis (p = 0.002), fibrin deposition, lymphocytic infiltration, chorangiosis, edema, intervillous hemorrhage, syncytial node formation, distal villous hypoplasia, and avascular villi (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

According to our study, the placental tissue of pregnant women who have been infected with COVID-19 during their third trimester indicates tissue changes that can lead to poor exchanges between mother and fetus.