Does COVID-19 During Pregnancy Harm the Baby’s Brain?

MRI of fetal brain development. Credit: RSNA and Sophia Stöcklein, MD

COVID-19 of mild to moderate severity in pregnant women appears to have no effect on the brain of the developing fetus, according to a study presented today (Nov. 30, 2021) at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). ).

Two years after the pandemic, there is evidence that pregnant women are more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. However, little is known about the possible consequences for an unborn child if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. The likelihood and impact of vertical transmission, ie transmission of the virus from mother to fetus, remains unclear.

“Women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy are concerned that the virus could affect their unborn child’s development, as is the case with some other viral infections,” said senior author Sophia Stöcklein, MD, of the Department of Radiology. at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, in Germany. “Until now, although there have been some reports of vertical transmission to the fetus, the exact risk and impact are largely unclear. The aim of our study was to fill this gap on the impact of a maternal SARS-CoV 2 infection to fill the developing fetal brain.”

Image of the fetus. Credit: RSNA and Sophia Stöcklein, MD

dr. Stöcklein and colleagues used fetal MRI to study 33 patients with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. The patients were on average about 28 weeks pregnant, with symptoms onset after an average of just over 18 weeks into the pregnancy. The most common maternal symptoms were loss or decreased sense of smell and taste, dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Two board-certified radiologists with several years of experience in fetal MRI evaluated the scans. They found that brain development in the assessed areas was age appropriate in all fetuses. There were no findings suggestive of fetal brain infection.

“In our study, there was no evidence that maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection has any effect on the brain development of the unborn child,” said Dr. Stockklein. “This fact should help reassure the affected parents.”

dr. Stöcklein warned that only mothers with mild to moderate symptoms and without hospitalization were included in the study.

“Since the impact of severe infection on fetal brain development has not been definitively established, active protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy remains important,” she said.

As part of that protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for all people ages 12 and older, including women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. The CDC notes that the vaccine may protect against serious illness.

“Until now, vaccination is the most promising protection against COVID-19,” said Dr. Stockklein. “All possible side effects are manageable, even in pregnant women. Therefore, despite the encouraging results of our study, pregnant women should strongly consider vaccination.”

The researchers will follow the patients over the next five years, including detailed neonatal and neurodevelopmental assessments.

Co-authors are Olaf Dietrich, Ph.D., Andreas Flemmer, MD, Julien Dinkel, MD, Nicola Fink, Vanessa Koliogiannis, MD, Christoph Hubener, MD, Tobias Prester, Maria Delius, MD, MPH, Thomas Kolben, and Sven Mahner , MD

Meeting: 107th Scientific Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America