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Updated: Jul 24, 2025

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Stillbirth and fulminant postpartum haemolysis: COVID-19 or leptospirosis or both?
Tabea Sutter1, Thomas Fehr2, Carolin Blume3
1Department of Intensive Care, Kantonsspital Graubunden, Chur, Switzerland.
Abstract:
We report the case of a female patient with a SARS-CoV-2 infection first diagnosed at 32 2/7 weeks of gestation, resulting in stillbirth at 33 5/7 weeks of gestation. Post partum the patient presented with severe and persistent haemolysis, mild thrombocytopaenia, renal insufficiency and proteinuria as well as elevated liver enzymes and jaundice. Further investigations revealed a positive IgM for Leptospira interrogans and proof of infection by PCR in the urine. The patient was treated with penicillin for 7 days and received a total of 23 units of red blood cells within 11 days. Haemolysis diminished over time and haemoglobin, proteinuria and transaminases normalised within 23 days after delivery. We suppose an acute leptospirosis as underlying cause for the haemolysis, mimicking pregnancy-associated thrombotic microangiopathy. Whether stillbirth was related to leptospirosis or SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear.

