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Updated: May 10, 2026
07:04
Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: July 21, 2016
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SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Delivery Causes Histopathological Changes in the Placenta
Jędrzej Borowczak1, Agnieszka Gąsiorek-Kwiatkowska2, Krzysztof Szczerbowski1
1Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 26, 2024
Summary
COVID-19 infection in pregnant individuals damages placentas, causing fetal growth issues. SARS-CoV-2 triggers placental inflammation, calcification, and accelerated maturation, impacting newborn health.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection can adversely affect human placentas.
- This can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes like preeclampsia and premature birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the histopathological alterations in placentas from COVID-19-positive individuals.
- To correlate placental findings with clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of 23 placentas from COVID-19 patients and 22 controls.
- Assessment for trophoblast necrosis, vascular damage, and fetal vascular malperfusion.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 placentas showed increased calcification, collapsed intervillous space, and accelerated vascular maturation.
- Trophoblast necrosis, elevated macrophages (CD68+), and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD3+) were observed.
- Newborns from the COVID-19 group had lower birth weights and Apgar scores.
Conclusions:
- SARS-CoV-2 is linked to placental pathology including necrosis, calcification, and accelerated maturation.
- Placental changes are associated with T cell and macrophage infiltration.
- Histiocytic intervillositis driven by immune cells contributes to SARS-CoV-2 placental pathology.
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