Research on the pregnancy outcome of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 in late pregnancy infection and mother-to-infant vertical transmission risks

Objective To evaluate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on pregnant woman in the late pregnancy, and further explores the possibility of mother-to-infant vertical transmission risks.Methods Patients with missed abortion who were admitted to Department of Obstetrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from December 20, 2022 to March 1, 2023 were selected. A total of 30 pregnant women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in late pregnancy (28 to 41 weeks) and cured were set as a study group. Meanwhile, another 30 normal late pregnant women who were admitted without SARS-CoV-2 infection were set as a control group. After admission, nucleic acid antigen was detected. Their general information was recorded, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) was used to detect new coronary virus RNAs in newborn swallows and amniotic fluid samples. The placenta was observed for pathological examinations to evaluate the presence of inflammatory reactions, infarction stoves and thrombosis formation.Results All pregnancy women infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the late pregnancy were subject to maternal cesarean section. Then, SARS-CoV-2 detection showed negative results, using maternal amniotic fluid and neonatal throat swabs. Most of the placenta presented normal pathological characteristics, such as chronic fluffy inflammation and fibrin in the wall, with poor results similar to placental blood flow. These pregnant women and newborns had good prognosis.Conclusions The current study has not shown poor pregnancy outcome in pregnant women who are cured after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the late pregnancy, as well as evidence concerning mother-to-infant vertical transmission. However, increases in female inflammatory response in the short term may result in insufficient perfusion of fetal tissue and placenta blood flow, leading to adverse obstetrics, such as neonatal pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and neonatal jaundice.