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Severe COVID-19 in Cardiopath Young Pregnant Patient without Vertical Transmission
Ana Paula Figueiredo de Montalvão França1,2, Danielly do Vale Pereira3, Elaine Valéria Rodrigues3
1Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.
Insights
This case report details a fatal COVID-19 infection in a young pregnant woman with heart disease. Despite severe illness, SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted to her newborn.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a global pandemic.
- Comorbidities, such as heart disease, can complicate COVID-19 outcomes.
- Pregnancy presents unique physiological challenges, potentially increasing risks during viral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a fatal case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young pregnant woman with pre-existing heart disease.
- To investigate the possibility of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to neonate in a severe case.
- To highlight the impact of comorbidities on the clinical course of COVID-19 in pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 26-year-old pregnant woman (28 weeks gestation) presenting with severe respiratory distress.
- Clinical assessment including history of heart disease and rheumatic fever.
- Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 in both mother and neonate post-cesarean delivery.
Main Results:
- The mother tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and progressed to a fatal outcome.
- The neonate tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, indicating no vertical transmission.
- The case underscores the significant role of comorbidities in severe COVID-19 progression.
Conclusions:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection can be fatal in young pregnant women, particularly those with underlying heart conditions.
- No evidence of vertical transmission was observed in this severe maternal COVID-19 case.
- Comorbidities significantly influence the clinical severity and prognosis of COVID-19 during pregnancy.
Abstract:
The new betacoronavirus, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the cause of COVID-19, and has spread rapidly around the world, reaching more than 200 countries, around 364 million people and causing more than 5 million deaths according to the World Health Organization, so this paper reports a fatal case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young pregnant woman with heart disease, without vertical transmission. A 26 years old patient at 28th week of pregnancy with regular prenatal care, presented dry cough, high fever, and severe respiratory distress. Due to her clinical symptoms, she sought medical care at a cardiology hospital in Northern Brazil. The medical conditions she presented were heart disease, rheumatic fever history and had no recent record of national or international travel. She was hospitalized and after clinical stabilization, she was referred for an emergency cesarean intervention. The young mother and the newborn were transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery, where diagnostic tests for respiratory viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, were performed. The mother tested positive, while her newborn was negative for SARS-CoV-2 demonstrating no vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in this severe case. This study reveals that despite the mother's initially mild symptoms, she progressed to severe clinical conditions resulting in death, although no vertical transmission was observed. This report highlights the relevance of comorbidities for the unfavorable clinical course of COVID-19.
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