SARS-CoV-2 Placentitis Associated With B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant and Fetal Distress or Demise

J Infect Dis. 2022 Mar 2;225(5):754-758. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac008.

Abstract

There is limited information on the specific impact of maternal infection with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (delta) variant on pregnancy outcomes. We present 2 cases of intrauterine fetal demise and 1 case of severe fetal distress in the setting of maternal infection with delta-variant SARS-CoV-2. In all cases, fetal demise or distress occurred within 14 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. Evaluation revealed maternal viremia, high nasopharyngeal viral load, evidence of placental infection with delta-variant SARS-CoV-2, and hallmark features of SARS-CoV-2 placentitis. We suggest that delta-variant SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy warrants vigilance for placental dysfunction and fetal compromise regardless of disease severity.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 placentitis; delta variant; placental infection; pregnancy; stillbirth.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Chorioamnionitis
  • Female
  • Fetal Death*
  • Fetal Distress*
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Placenta / virology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants