Women who were Covid-19 positive during pregnancy had placentas with an impaired immune response to infection, new research has uncovered.
Even where infection was mild, there was damage to the placenta’s immune response to further infections.
The research studied 164 pregnant individuals: 24 uninfected healthy patients as a control group, and 140 who contracted Covid-19. Both groups gave birth at about 37 to 38 weeks. Preterm birth occurred at almost three times the rate among patients with Covid-19.
About 75% of patients with Covid-19 were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.
Dr Kristina Adams Waldorf, senior author and professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Washington, said the infection changes the way the placenta works, which is likely to impact fetal development. Her co- author, Dr Helen Feltovich, added: ‘Our study suggests that babies born to mothers infected with Covid-19 at any point during their pregnancy will need to be monitored as they grow up.’
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Image credit | Shutterstock
