CORRELATION OF SARS-COV-2 EXPRESSION IN THE PLACENTA AND THE INCIDENCE OF PREECLAMPSIA

Afr J Infect Dis. 2022 Dec 22;17(1):45-54. doi: 10.21010/Ajidv17i1.4. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 also caused infection in some pregnant women. Some reports say this viral infection can show symptoms of preeclampsia.

Material and methods: We analyzed 25 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection with 4 patients presenting with symptoms of preeclampsia. we performed routine blood analysis, renal function, liver function, and IHC examination to see the expression of viral proteins in the placenta.

Results: we obtained 4 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR. In these 4 cases, none of the cases showed expression of the SARS-CoV-2 viral protein in the placenta, and all 4 mothers were declared dead after treatment, and 2 babies delivered out of these 4 cases died. In one case we had fetal death in pregnancy while in one case prematurity. 2 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection with preeclampsia were born in good condition. There were no babies infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion: We conclude that SAR-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women with comorbidities can lead to a poor prognosis for both mother and baby. We cannot yet conclude whether SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause preeclampsia, but SARS-CoV-2 infection can exacerbate preeclampsia symptoms.

Keywords: Histopathology; IHC; Nucleocapsid; Preeclampsia; SAR-CoV-2.