Drucilla J. Roberts, MD, of the General Department of Mass Pathology and colleagues recently published a review of the literature in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, titled SARS-CoV-2 Placentitis, Stillbirth and Maternal COVID -19 Vaccination: Clinical-Pathological Correlations.
What was the question you set out to answer with this review?
Death is a recognized complication of COVID-19 in pregnant women that has recently been shown to be caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection of the placenta.
This infection caused by the virus has been called SARS-CoV-2 placentitis and can adversely affect more than 75% of the placenta, effectively rendering it unable to perform its function of providing oxygen to the fetus.
To combat this event, we wanted to know if vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 protects against stillbirth caused by SARS-COV-2 placentitis.
What are two or three key points?
- In all reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 placentitis that caused death and neonatal death, the mothers were not vaccinated.
- The development of SARS-CoV-2 placentitis probably involves viral and immunological factors.
- Maternal vaccination against COVID-19 can save lives for both the fetus and the mother.
What were your conclusions?
After reviewing the relationship between stillbirth and maternal vaccination, we found that vaccination appears to protect against stillbirth related to COVID-19.
Pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk of stillbirth compared to uninfected women, and those who vaccinate can more effectively prevent adverse conditions such as SARS-CoV-2 placentitis, infant death, preterm birth, and death departs
What are the potential clinical implications of your work?
Regarding the clinical implications of this review, it is clear that pregnant women should be encouraged to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, to prevent adverse health events.
Source:
Massachusetts General Hospital
Journal reference:
Schwartz, DA, et al. (2022) SARS-CoV-2 placentitis, stillbirth and maternal vaccination against COVID-19: clinical-pathological correlations. Global reports AJOG. doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.10.001.