Placental Histopathology in COVID-19-Positive Mothers

Abstract

With the recent pandemic of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), hospitals had an influx of COVID-19-positive mothers who were preparing for delivery. Due to the worldwide spread of COVID-19, information on adverse pregnancy outcomes has emerged in the literature, such as preeclampsia, preterm delivery, miscarriage, intrauterine fetal demise, and neonatal death The main binding receptor for SARS-CoV-2 on host cell is angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 is expressed in the placenta [2] and is found in the syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, endothelium, and vascular smooth muscle from both primary and secondary villi Innovative methodical research found evidence that ACE2 is expressed in various gynecologic organs such as the ovary, uterus, and vagina. Overall, ACE2 expression has been seen in numerous tissues in direct relation with developing pregnancies that could be associated with adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. Congenital infection can be challenging to characterize since pathogen detection usually requires specific methods. The placenta represents a highly specialized organ that maintains optimal environment for fetal development. Placental evaluation after delivery provides useful information such as the identification of disease processes in the mother or infant that requires diagnoses to deliver a specific explanation for an adverse outcome related to disease It is well recognized that analysis of the placental histopathological changes can provide valuable information, considering that a variety of pathological agents, counting infectious ones, are associated with characteristic morphological findings The intention of present research work was to evaluate a successive series of placentas delivered at our institution from COVID-19-positive mothers

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