Intrauterine deaths in pregnancies with COVID-19 infection

Authors : Kandukuri Malavika, Janaki Vellanki

DOI : 10.18231/j.ijogr.2022.038

Volume : 9

Issue : 2

Year : 2022

Page No : 193-197

Background: Corona virus outbreak emerged in Wuhan in late December 2019. It was declared as pandemic by WHO in March 2020. Patients usually present with fever cold, cough and fatigue. The severity of the disease varies from moderate to severe, with the majority of cases being mild. Fatality was high in immuno-compromised patients. Pregnancy is considered to be an immunosuppressive state, so pregnant women were also at risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection. According to the literature, COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may cause fetal discomfort, preterm labour, miscarriage, or neonatal death.
Materials and Methods: This is an observational analytical study that took place over an 8-months period during which the hospital served as a nodal centre for Covid patients. All pregnant women with intrauterine death at 20 weeks or more of pregnancy with COVID-19 infection confirmed through RTPCR were included in the study Placental fragments and amniotic fluid were tested for SARS-COV2 infection. Histology of placental fragments were studied by pathologist.
Results and Conclusion: Out of 30 Intrauterine deaths reported during the study period only twelve of them are due to associated co-morbidities like hypertensive disorders, diabetes and others, remaining are due to COVID-19 related hypoxia. Fetal demise with no other clinical or obstetric disorders prove that intrauterine deaths is also an outcome in pregnancies with COVID-19 infection with signs of acute chorioamnionitis and other inflammatory reactions noted in histological specimen of placental fragments.


Keywords: COVID- 19, Intrauterine fetal death, Placental histopathology.


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