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Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: January 26, 2024
CORRELATION OF SARS-COV-2 EXPRESSION IN THE PLACENTA AND THE INCIDENCE OF PREECLAMPSIA
Lumbanraja Sarma1, Effendi Iman Helmy1, Siahaan Andre M2
1Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, 20136, Indonesia.
Background:
The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 also caused infection in some pregnant women. Some reports say this viral infection can show symptoms of preeclampsia.
Material And Methods:
We analyzed 25 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection with 4 patients presenting with symptoms of preeclampsia. we performed routine blood analysis, renal function, liver function, and IHC examination to see the expression of viral proteins in the placenta.
Results:
we obtained 4 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR. In these 4 cases, none of the cases showed expression of the SARS-CoV-2 viral protein in the placenta, and all 4 mothers were declared dead after treatment, and 2 babies delivered out of these 4 cases died. In one case we had fetal death in pregnancy while in one case prematurity. 2 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection with preeclampsia were born in good condition. There were no babies infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusion:
We conclude that SAR-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women with comorbidities can lead to a poor prognosis for both mother and baby. We cannot yet conclude whether SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause preeclampsia, but SARS-CoV-2 infection can exacerbate preeclampsia symptoms.
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