Disturbance of utero-placental-fetus blood flow in pregnant women with community-acquired pneumonia of bacterial and viral (COVID-19) etiology

   Introduction. Placental insufficiency is one of the most frequently developing complications in pregnant women with acute respiratory failure, which is a consequence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), including viral etiology. The impact of COVID-19 infection on the course of pregnancy, the condition of the fetus and newborns has not been studied enough.

   Aim. To study the state of uteroplacental-fetal circulation, placenta and fetus in women with bacterial and COVID-19-associated CAP in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

   Materials and methods. The history of childbirth and the results of examinations of 120 women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were analyzed, including 37 women with moderate CAP of bacterial etiology, 48 women with COVID-19 infection. The comparison group consisted of 35 women with uncomplicated pregnancy. The state of the placenta and fetus was assessed according to the data of ultrasound and utero-placental-fetal blood flow – Doppler study. Pulsation indices (PI) and cerebro-placental ratio (CPR) were analyzed.

   Results. According to our data, the risk of developing chronic placental insufficiency in pregnant women with COVID-19-associated CAP of moderate severity was higher than in groups of women with CAP of bacterial etiology and in the comparison group. In groups with CAP, significant differences were found in the indices of CPR, PI of the uterine arteries, umbilical cord arteries and middle cerebral artery, corresponding to I (A, B) or II degree of disturbance of the uteroplacental and/or placental-fetal blood flow. Chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia and fetal growth retardation were more frequently detected in the group with COVID-19-associated CAP. Newborns born to mothers with COVID-19 infection have an increased risk of neonatal damage to the central nervous system (CNS).

   Conclusion. COVID-19-associated CAP, compared with CAP of bacterial etiology, increases the risk of chronic placental insufficiency, intrauterine fetal hypoxia and fetal growth retardation, and the development of neonatal CNS damage.

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