COVID-19 and pregnancy: MVM evidence found
There are changes to the placenta, including evidence of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM).
Emily Miller, MD, MPH, with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, has been involved in what may be the most interesting clinical findings to date for the impact of COVID-19 to pregnancy. There are changes to the placenta, including evidence of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM).
Miller and her co-authors published their findings in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology in an article entitled, “Placental Pathology in COVID-19.”
Sixteen placentas from women with COVID-19 were examined during the study; 15 were live births in the third trimester and one delivered in the second trimester after intrauterine fetal demise, according to the article abstract. The patients delivered between March 18 and May 5.
Compared to controls, third trimester placentas were significantly more likely to show at least one feature of MVM, particularly abnormal or injured maternal vessels, and intervillous thrombi, the study results stated. Rates of acute and chronic inflammation were not increased.
In this preview clip, Miller discusses MVM and what she has seen in clinical practice and research with Senior Editor Angie DeRosa.
Learn more from this exclusive interview with Dr. Miller, including the impact of socioeconomic status and how patients are able to socially distance, by watching the full video.
Contemporary OB/GYN Senior Editor Angie DeRosa gets insight on the current state of COVID-19 from Christina Han, MD, division director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and member of its COVID-19 task force. Han is an active member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and discusses the issues on behalf of SMFM.
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