WASHINGTON: Two years after the pandemic, there is evidence that pregnant women are more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. However, little is known about the potential consequences for the unborn baby if the mother is infected during pregnancy.
The study was presented at the annual meeting of Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
According to a recent study, mild to moderate severity of COVID-19 in pregnant women has no effect on the developing fetal brain.
The potential and effectiveness of vertical transmission, meaning the path of the virus from mother to fetus, is unclear.
“Women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy are concerned that the virus may affect the development of their unborn child, as is the case with some other viral infections,” said study senior author Sofia. stocklinMD from the Department of Radiology at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany. “So far, although there are few reports of vertical transmission to the fetus, the exact risks and effects remain largely unclear.
The aim of our study was to fill this gap in knowledge about the effect of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on fetal brain development.”
Dr. Stocklin and colleagues used embryos MRI Studying 33 patients with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. The patients were about 28 weeks into their pregnancies, on average, with symptom onset only just over 18 weeks into the pregnancy. The most common maternal symptoms were loss or loss of smell and taste, dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.
Two board-certified radiologists with many years of experience in fetal MRI evaluated the scans. They found that brain development in the regions assessed was age-appropriate in all fetuses. There were no signs of infection in the fetal brain.
“In our study, there was no evidence that a maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection has any effect on the unborn child’s brain development,” said Dr. Stocklin said. “This fact should help reassure the affected parent.”
Dr Stocklin cautioned that the study included only mothers with mild to moderate symptoms and those without hospitalization.
“Since the effect of severe infection on brain development in the fetus has not been conclusively determined, active protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy remains important,” she said.
As part of that protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for everyone 12 years of age and older, including women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The CDC notes that the vaccine may protect against serious disease.
“By far, vaccination is the most promising protection against COVID-19,” Dr. Stocklin said. “Any potential side effects can also be managed in pregnant women. Therefore, despite the encouraging results of our study, pregnant women should strongly consider vaccination.”
Researchers will follow the patients over the next five years, including a detailed neonatal evaluation, as well as evaluation of neurological development.
The study was presented at the annual meeting of Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
According to a recent study, mild to moderate severity of COVID-19 in pregnant women has no effect on the developing fetal brain.
The potential and effectiveness of vertical transmission, meaning the path of the virus from mother to fetus, is unclear.
“Women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy are concerned that the virus may affect the development of their unborn child, as is the case with some other viral infections,” said study senior author Sofia. stocklinMD from the Department of Radiology at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany. “So far, although there are few reports of vertical transmission to the fetus, the exact risks and effects remain largely unclear.
The aim of our study was to fill this gap in knowledge about the effect of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on fetal brain development.”
Dr. Stocklin and colleagues used embryos MRI Studying 33 patients with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. The patients were about 28 weeks into their pregnancies, on average, with symptom onset only just over 18 weeks into the pregnancy. The most common maternal symptoms were loss or loss of smell and taste, dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.
Two board-certified radiologists with many years of experience in fetal MRI evaluated the scans. They found that brain development in the regions assessed was age-appropriate in all fetuses. There were no signs of infection in the fetal brain.
“In our study, there was no evidence that a maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection has any effect on the unborn child’s brain development,” said Dr. Stocklin said. “This fact should help reassure the affected parent.”
Dr Stocklin cautioned that the study included only mothers with mild to moderate symptoms and those without hospitalization.
“Since the effect of severe infection on brain development in the fetus has not been conclusively determined, active protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy remains important,” she said.
As part of that protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for everyone 12 years of age and older, including women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The CDC notes that the vaccine may protect against serious disease.
“By far, vaccination is the most promising protection against COVID-19,” Dr. Stocklin said. “Any potential side effects can also be managed in pregnant women. Therefore, despite the encouraging results of our study, pregnant women should strongly consider vaccination.”
Researchers will follow the patients over the next five years, including a detailed neonatal evaluation, as well as evaluation of neurological development.