Decreased Fetal Movements: A Sign of Placental SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Perinatal Brain Injury

Guillaume Favre; Sara Mazzetti; Carole Gengler; Claire Bertelli; Juliane Schneider; Bernard Laubscher; Romina Capoccia; Fatemeh Pakniyat; Inès Ben Jazia; Béatrice Eggel-Hort; Laurence de Leval; Léo Pomar; Gilbert Greub; David Baud; Eric Giannoni

doi:10.3390/v13122517

Viruses (Dec 2021)

Decreased Fetal Movements: A Sign of Placental SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Perinatal Brain Injury

Guillaume Favre,
Sara Mazzetti,
Carole Gengler,
Claire Bertelli,
Juliane Schneider,
Bernard Laubscher,
Romina Capoccia,
Fatemeh Pakniyat,
Inès Ben Jazia,
Béatrice Eggel-Hort,
Laurence de Leval,
Léo Pomar,
Gilbert Greub,
David Baud,
Eric Giannoni

Affiliations

Guillaume Favre: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Sara Mazzetti: Clinic of Pediatrics, Department Mother-Woman-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Carole Gengler: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Claire Bertelli: Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Juliane Schneider: Clinic of Neonatology, Department Mother-Woman-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Bernard Laubscher: Clinic of Pediatrics, Department Mother-Woman-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Romina Capoccia: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Réseau Hospitalier Neuchâtelois, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland
Fatemeh Pakniyat: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Réseau Hospitalier Neuchâtelois, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland
Inès Ben Jazia: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Réseau Hospitalier Neuchâtelois, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland
Béatrice Eggel-Hort: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital du Valais—Centre Hospitalier du Valais Romand—Site de Sion, 1951 Sion, Switzerland
Laurence de Leval: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Léo Pomar: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Gilbert Greub: Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
David Baud: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Eric Giannoni: Clinic of Neonatology, Department Mother-Woman-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v13122517
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 12
p. 2517

Abstract

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Neonatal COVID-19 is rare and mainly results from postnatal transmission. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), however, can infect the placenta and compromise its function. We present two cases of decreased fetal movements and abnormal fetal heart rhythm 5 days after mild maternal COVID-19, requiring emergency caesarean section at 29 + 3 and 32 + 1 weeks of gestation, and leading to brain injury. Placental examination revealed extensive and multifocal chronic intervillositis, with intense cytoplasmic positivity for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody and SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR. Vertical transmission was confirmed in one case, and both neonates developed extensive cystic peri-ventricular leukomalacia.

Published in Viruses

ISSN: 1999-4915 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses

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