How Much Does SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Pregnancy Affect the Neonatal Brain, Heart, and Kidney? A Parallel between COVID-19, Vaccination, and Normal Pregnancy
Daniela Eugenia Popescu,
Ana Maria Cristina Jura,
Dana Știube,
Adrian Ciulpan,
Florina Stoica,
Simona Ioana Șipoș,
Cosmin Cîtu,
Florin Gorun,
Mărioara Boia
Affiliations
Daniela Eugenia Popescu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Ana Maria Cristina Jura
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Dana Știube
Department of Neonatology, Premiere Hospital, Regina Maria Health Network, Calea Aradului, No. 113, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Adrian Ciulpan
Department of Pediatrics, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Florina Stoica
Department of Ophthalmology, Emergency Municipal Clinical Hospital, Gheorghe Dima Street 5, 300254 Timisoara, Romania
Simona Ioana Șipoș
Department of Pharmacology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Cosmin Cîtu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Florin Gorun
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Mărioara Boia
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
During the last decades, a growing number of studies have shown that infections during pregnancy have an important impact on both pregnant women and their fetuses. Our goal was to include newborns from pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 infection and to investigate the extension of neonatal complications using cardiac, abdominal, and cerebral ultrasonography; hearing testing; and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Likewise, neonates whose mothers were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy and those from pathology-free pregnancies were examined. A total of 458 mother–newborn dyads were included over a period of 10 months and divided into three groups: the COVID-19 group, vaccine group, and control group. Although six cardiac malformations were found in the COVID-19 group, no correlation was made compared to the vaccine and control group (p = 0.07). Grade 1 intraventricular hemorrhage and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were the most prevalent among neonates from mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.002 and p p < 0.001). COVID-19 disease during the gestational period had no effect on the auditory or visual function. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing proper infection control practices for future mothers, and by continuing to investigate this topic, we can gather valuable insights that will improve neonatal health in this context.
