COVID-19 Susceptibility in Pregnancy: Immune/inflammatory Considerations, the Role of Placental ACE-2 and Research Considerations

Overview

Journal Reprod Biol

Specialties Biology
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2020 Nov 13

PMID 33183974

Citations 17

Authors

Ann Kinga Malinowski

Abdelrahman Noureldin

Maha Othman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, to which herd immunity has not yet developed and both molecular and serological testing are not without flaws. The virus evokes a state of severe and widespread inflammation, and stimulates both innate and adaptive immune response. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which acts as the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, is present in endothelial cells and has been noted within the human placenta. There are questions about whether pregnancy would increase the susceptibility of pregnant women to COVID-19 and disease severity within this population. In this report, we highlight physiological and immune/inflammatory considerations that may explain the susceptibility and disease pathology in response to SARS CoV-2 during pregnancy, explore testing considerations in asymptomatic individuals, discuss the potential role and of placental ACE2 receptor in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in pregnancy and in pregnancy outcomes, and finally share our perspective with respect to an urgently needed change concerning involvement of pregnant women in research addressing COVID-19.

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