Infections in Pregnancy

By the time coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had been announced pandemic by the World Health Organization, Turkish Ministry of Health reported the first case in Türkiye. 1 Since then, number of clinical trials indicated an obstetrical practice algorithm. To date, the disease shows a greater risk among pregnant women, particularly if the lower respiratory system is involved. Although most series reported that there is no intrauterine or transplacental viral transmission to the fetus, several placental histochemical analyses of symptomatic cases demonstrated severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion of the placenta. Theoretically, placenta functions as lung and kidney in the antenatal period. Thus, focusing on placental structural and functional alterations may provide further information about the process of the infection. In this prospective cohort study, we planned to report characteristics of deliveries with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, investigate transplacental transmission, and compare first-line histopathological findings with healthy controls. We constructed a prospective cohort study of term deliveries at our tertiary hospital's obstetric unit between March and April 2021. We tested the patients

By the time coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had been announced pandemic by the World Health Organization, Turkish Ministry of Health reported the first case in Türkiye. 1 Since then, number of clinical trials indicated an obstetrical practice algorithm. To date, the disease shows a greater risk among pregnant women, particularly if the lower respiratory system is involved. Although most series reported that there is no intrauterine or transplacental viral transmission to the fetus, several placental histochemical analyses of symptomatic cases demonstrated severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion of the placenta. 2-5 Theoretically, placenta functions as lung and kidney in the antenatal period. Thus, focusing on placental structural and functional alterations may provide further information about the process of the infection. In this prospective cohort study, we planned to report characteristics of deliveries with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, investigate transplacental transmission, and compare first-line histopathological findings with healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS We constructed a prospective cohort study of term deliveries at our tertiary hospital's obstetric unit between March and April 2021. We tested the patients

Introduction: This research aims to describe a progressive pattern of ultrasound placental remodeling in patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal, cohort study which enrolled 23 pregnant women with a history of former mild SARS-CoV-2 infection during the current pregnancy. Four obstetricians analyzed placental ultrasound images from different gestational ages following COVID infection and identified the presence and degree of remodeling. We assessed the inter-rater agreement and the interclass correlation coefficients. Pathology workup included placental biometry, macroscopic and microscopic examination. Results: Serial ultrasound evaluation of the placental morphology revealed a progressive pattern of placental remodeling starting from 30–32 weeks of gestation towards term, occurring approximately 8–10 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Placental changes—the “starry sky” appearance and the “white line” along...

By the time coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had been announced pandemic by the World Health Organization, Turkish Ministry of Health reported the first case in Türkiye. 1 Since then, number of clinical trials indicated an obstetrical practice algorithm. To date, the disease shows a greater risk among pregnant women, particularly if the lower respiratory system is involved. Although most series reported that there is no intrauterine or transplacental viral transmission to the fetus, several placental histochemical analyses of symptomatic cases demonstrated severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion of the placenta. 2-5 Theoretically, placenta functions as lung and kidney in the antenatal period. Thus, focusing on placental structural and functional alterations may provide further information about the process of the infection. In this prospective cohort study, we planned to report characteristics of deliveries with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, investigate transplacental transmission, and compare first-line histopathological findings with healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS We constructed a prospective cohort study of term deliveries at our tertiary hospital's obstetric unit between March and April 2021. We tested the patients

Introduction: This research aims to describe a progressive pattern of ultrasound placental remodeling in patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal, cohort study which enrolled 23 pregnant women with a history of former mild SARS-CoV-2 infection during the current pregnancy. Four obstetricians analyzed placental ultrasound images from different gestational ages following COVID infection and identified the presence and degree of remodeling. We assessed the inter-rater agreement and the interclass correlation coefficients. Pathology workup included placental biometry, macroscopic and microscopic examination. Results: Serial ultrasound evaluation of the placental morphology revealed a progressive pattern of placental remodeling starting from 30–32 weeks of gestation towards term, occurring approximately 8–10 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Placental changes—the “starry sky” appearance and the “white line” along...

Introduction: This research aims to describe a progressive pattern of ultrasound placental remodeling in patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal, cohort study which enrolled 23 pregnant women with a history of former mild SARS-CoV-2 infection during the current pregnancy. Four obstetricians analyzed placental ultrasound images from different gestational ages following COVID infection and identified the presence and degree of remodeling. We assessed the inter-rater agreement and the interclass correlation coefficients. Pathology workup included placental biometry, macroscopic and microscopic examination. Results: Serial ultrasound evaluation of the placental morphology revealed a progressive pattern of placental remodeling starting from 30–32 weeks of gestation towards term, occurring approximately 8–10 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Placental changes—the “starry sky” appearance and the “white line” along...

By the time coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had been announced pandemic by the World Health Organization, Turkish Ministry of Health reported the first case in Türkiye. 1 Since then, number of clinical trials indicated an obstetrical practice algorithm. To date, the disease shows greater risk among pregnant woman, particularly if the lower respiratory system is involved. Although most series reported that there is no intrauterine or transplacental viral transmission to the fetus, several placental histochemical analyses of symptomatic cases demonstrated severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion of the placenta. 2-5 Theoretically, placenta functions as lung and kidney in the antenatal period. Thus, focusing on placental structural and functional alterations may provide further information about the process of the infection. In this prospective cohort study, we planned to report characteristics of deliveries with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, investigate transplacental transmission and compare first-line histopathological findings with healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS We constructed a prospective cohort study of term deliveries at our tertiary hospital's obstetric unit between March and April 2021. We tested the patients 1 1 1

Objectives: Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) affects one to ten fetuses per 10 000 live newborns in western countries. Without knowing pre-conception serostatus, it is hard to date the infection when anti-Toxo-plasma IgG and IgM antibodies are positive at first screening. Although a high IgG avidity index (AI) in the first trimester excludes CT, the same cannot be said of intermediate and low AI. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of CT when intermediate or low AI is detected in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Our observational retrospective study enrolled women with positive anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM, and low/intermediate AI in the first trimester of gestation seen at two reference centres in northern Italy between 2006 and 2015. All women received spiramycin. When requested by women, a sample of fluid obtained through amniocentesis was tested with a commercial real-time PCR. CT was defined by positive PCR result confirmed on aborted materials or by newborn follow up. Results: Overall, 778 first-trimester pregnant women were included; AI was low in 532/778 (68%) and intermediate in 246/778 (32%). Amniocenteses were performed in 528/778 (67.9%), with no fetal loss. In all, 19/778 (2.4%) miscarriages and 15/778 (1.9%) pregnancy terminations were recorded; 9/778 (1.6%) were lost to follow up. In two women, PCR on amniotic fluid was positive, but CT was confirmed in only 1/747 cases (0.13%, 95% CI 0.02%e0.75%).