Pregnancy Loss Associated with COVID-19 Infection: Associations with Detection of Viral RNA in Placental and Fetal Tissue.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate placental pathology and cause of death (COD) in pregnancy losses associated with maternal COVID-19 infection and examine associations with detection of SARS-CoV-2 in placenta and fetal organs.

METHODS

Demographics, placental pathology, and COD information was collected from fetal autopsies done at Evanston hospital, IL between 03/1/2020 and 12/31/2022 where maternal history indicated positive SARS-CoV-2 test during pregnancy or SARS-CoV-2 infection was suspected after fetal autopsy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was performed on placenta, fetal liver, and lung tissue.

RESULTS

We identified 13 autopsies and detected SARS-CoV-2 in placentas of 5 cases, all showed chronic histiocytic intervillositis (CHI) and massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MPVFD). CHI and MPVFD were absent in all the PCR-negative cases (P < .001). Fetal liver was positive for SARS-CoV-2 in 1 case, which was in the group with negative placental SARS-CoV-2 PCR. The lung tissue was negative in all cases.

CONCLUSION

We confirm the association between detectable placental SARS-CoV-2 with CHI and MPVFD in placentas from pregnancy losses in mother who had COVID-19 during their pregnancy. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in fetal liver, despite negative placental tissue, was unexpected and may be important for understanding the impact of maternal COVID infection on neonates.