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Case Reports
. 2020 Dec;39(12):2441-2445.
doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-03964-y. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and preterm birth

Bianca Pulinx  1 , Davy Kieffer  1 , Ian Michiels  2 , Stéphanie Petermans  2 , David Strybol  3 , Sigrun Delvaux  3 , Marcella Baldewijns  4 , Marijke Raymaekers  5 , Reinoud Cartuyvels  5 , Wim Maurissen  6
Affiliations
Case Reports

Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and preterm birth

Bianca Pulinx et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Viral infections are common complications of pregnancy, with a wide range of obstetric and neonatal sequelae. Currently, there are limited data on whether SARS-CoV-2 is vertically transmitted in pregnant women tested positive for the virus. Here we describe a case of a known SARS-CoV-2-positive woman giving preterm birth to two fetuses with SARS-CoV-2 positive testing in placental tissue and amniotic fluid. The placental histological examinations showed chronic intervillositis and extensive intervillous fibrin depositions with ischemic necrosis of the surrounding villi.

Keywords: Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2; Vertical transmission.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
High power view (× 20) of the placenta with intervillous fibrin depositions (A) and aggregates of histiocytes and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (B)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Lower power view (× 10) of the placenta with intervillous fibrin depositions (A) and ischemic necrosis of the surrounding villi (B)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
High power view (x40) showing viral localization in the placental syncytiotrophoblast cells
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Lower power view (x10) showing viral localization in the placental syncytiotrophoblast cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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