Abstract
Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effect of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS) infection on fetal growth and vascularisation using ultrasound and Doppler examination.
Methods
Pregnant women enrolled in this study attended the Riga Maternity Hospital from May till July 2021 after confirmed SARS infection by RNA PCR. Ultrasound examination consisted of fetal anatomy, biometry, biophysical profile (BPP), and transvaginal cervical length (CL). Doppler examination included the interrogation of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), ductus venosus (DV), and uterine arteries (UtA). All biometry values and Doppler pulsatility indices (PI) were converted to z-scores, percentiles, and compared to controls without SARS infection history during pregnancy, matched by gestational age and parity.
Patients
The study and control group each included twenty-five participants with spontaneous onset of pregnancy. The gestational age of enrolled patients was in the range from 13+1 till 37+4 weeks. The exclusion criteria were gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, autoimmune diseases, multiple pregnancies, and smoking history.
Interventions
Interventions are not applicable.
Main outcome measures
The primary study outcome measurements were abdominal circumference (AC), estimated fetal weight (EFW), AFI, BPP, MCA PI, UA PI, UtA PI, DV PI, and CL. The secondary outcome was the evaluation of SARS symptoms.
Results
No fetuses with anatomical anomalies, abnormal Doppler and BPP evaluation were detected in both groups. There were no statistical difference in respect to AC (p=0,54), EFW (p=0,82), AFI (p=0,59), MCA PI (p=0,88), UA PI (p=0,93), UtA PI (0,53), DV PI (p=0,65), CL (p=0,68) measurements between the study group and controls.
The majority of patients encountered SARS infection during the second trimester (64%) and experienced mild symptoms (88%). The main symptoms were loss of smell and taste, subfebrile temperature, dry cough, headaches, and rhinitis. The average duration of illness was five days. Only 4% of patients required oxygen therapy and hospitalization.
Conclusions
There were no significant differences between women exposed to SARS infection during pregnancy and controls regarding ultrasound findings and Doppler values.
The more frequently observed symptoms of SARS infection in generally healthy pregnant women were mild.
The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effect of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS) infection on fetal growth and vascularisation using ultrasound and Doppler examination.
Methods
Pregnant women enrolled in this study attended the Riga Maternity Hospital from May till July 2021 after confirmed SARS infection by RNA PCR. Ultrasound examination consisted of fetal anatomy, biometry, biophysical profile (BPP), and transvaginal cervical length (CL). Doppler examination included the interrogation of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), ductus venosus (DV), and uterine arteries (UtA). All biometry values and Doppler pulsatility indices (PI) were converted to z-scores, percentiles, and compared to controls without SARS infection history during pregnancy, matched by gestational age and parity.
Patients
The study and control group each included twenty-five participants with spontaneous onset of pregnancy. The gestational age of enrolled patients was in the range from 13+1 till 37+4 weeks. The exclusion criteria were gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, autoimmune diseases, multiple pregnancies, and smoking history.
Interventions
Interventions are not applicable.
Main outcome measures
The primary study outcome measurements were abdominal circumference (AC), estimated fetal weight (EFW), AFI, BPP, MCA PI, UA PI, UtA PI, DV PI, and CL. The secondary outcome was the evaluation of SARS symptoms.
Results
No fetuses with anatomical anomalies, abnormal Doppler and BPP evaluation were detected in both groups. There were no statistical difference in respect to AC (p=0,54), EFW (p=0,82), AFI (p=0,59), MCA PI (p=0,88), UA PI (p=0,93), UtA PI (0,53), DV PI (p=0,65), CL (p=0,68) measurements between the study group and controls.
The majority of patients encountered SARS infection during the second trimester (64%) and experienced mild symptoms (88%). The main symptoms were loss of smell and taste, subfebrile temperature, dry cough, headaches, and rhinitis. The average duration of illness was five days. Only 4% of patients required oxygen therapy and hospitalization.
Conclusions
There were no significant differences between women exposed to SARS infection during pregnancy and controls regarding ultrasound findings and Doppler values.
The more frequently observed symptoms of SARS infection in generally healthy pregnant women were mild.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 199 |
| Journal | European Gynecology and Obstetrics |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | Suppl.1 |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2021 |
| Event | 14th Congress of the European Society of Gynecology - Online, Venice, Italy Duration: 10 Nov 2021 → 13 Nov 2021 Conference number: 14 |
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)
