Journal Article Review Epublish 45 citations
PubMed: 34816177 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2021.602572
Susceptibility to COVID-19 in Pregnancy, Labor, and Postpartum Period: Immune System, Vertical Transmission, and Breastfeeding.
Front Glob Womens Health 2:602572
Authors: Adson José Martins Vale, Amélia Carolina Lopes Fernandes, Fausto Pierdoná Guzen, Francisco Irochima Pinheiro, Eduardo Pereira de Azevedo, Ricardo Ney Cobucci
Affiliations
- Tocogynecology Department, Medical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil.
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, Laureate International Universities - Universidade Potiguar (UnP), Natal, Brazil.
- Medical School, Laureate International Universities - Universidade Potiguar (UnP), Natal, Brazil.
- Nurse Department, Nurse School, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, Brazil.
Abstract
The new coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) was first identified in late 2019 as the new RNA virus in the coronaviridae family responsible for causing COVID-19 in the residents of China's Hubei province. In mid-March 2020 WHO declared the pandemic caused by this virus as a result of thousands of people infected all over the world. Epidemiological evidence obtained from other pandemics, such as influenza and ebola, suggest that pregnant women are more susceptible to serious complications and death from viral infection. Physiological changes in the anatomical structure of the respiratory system as well as in the immune system during the pregnancy-puerperal period seem to contribute to this greater risk. Thus, pregnant women are more susceptible to be infected by the SARS-COV-2 or other viruses and to have serious COVID-19 disease. In fact, COVID-19 can alter immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface, affecting the well-being of both mother and her fetus. There is still no sufficient evidence in the literature to support the occurrence of vertical transmission and through breastfeeding, but the prevalence of prematurity was high among pregnant women infected by SARS-Cov-2. In this review, the changes in the immune system that may increase susceptibility to SARS-Cov-2 are discussed as well as the possible mechanisms involved in the transmission of the virus to the fetus by vertical transmission and during breastfeeding.
MeSH
Pregnant Women, Pregnancy, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Breast Feeding, Covid-19, Viruses, Immune System, Immunity, Pandemics, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus, Fetus, Postpartum Period
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- Coronavirus and Pregnancy: The Challenges of the 21 Century: A Review. Front Microbiol, 2022
- COVID-19: Consequences on pregnant women and neonates. Health Sci Rev (Oxf), 2022
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- The clinical manifestations and pregnancy outcomes of COVID-19 infection at a tertiary care hospital. Pak J Med Sci, 2024
- Effect of COVID-19 on antenatal care: experiences of medical professionals in the Netherlands. Reprod Health, 2023
- Assessing SARS-CoV-2 Vertical Transmission and Neonatal Complications. J Clin Med, 2021
- COVID-19 and pregnancy: a comprehensive study of comorbidities and outcomes. BMC Public Health, 2024
- Inhibition of IL-6 signaling prevents serum-induced umbilical cord artery dysfunction from patients with severe COVID-19. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 2023