key: cord-0927812-x3en8zim
authors: Jain, Vidhi; Kanchan, Tanuj
title: Intrauterine vertical transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: did we just miss the proof?
date: 2020-09-12
journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2020.100228
sha: ff07113b4823d560e56e2854ddde7714a3dd79e8
doc_id: 927812
cord_uid: x3en8zim

nan

Intrauterine vertical transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: did we just miss the proof?

TO THE EDITOR: The vertical transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a burning topic of current research. New waves of research evidence wash over the existing guidelines and spark fresh debates over vertical transmissibility. The possibility of mother to fetus transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is not supported by current evidence in the absence of reports of positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results for SARS-CoV-2 in amniotic fluid, placenta, cord blood, or breast milk. 1 A recent report published in the American Journal of Ob- In addition, some studies have highlighted the presence of specific antieSARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG in the sera of neonates born to infected mothers. 3e6 In the absence of placental RT-PCR tests, the detection of IgM in the newborn further strengthens the possibility of in utero contact with the virus. Because IgM is a large molecule, it does not cross the intact placenta and cannot be acquired from the mother.

The observations reported by Penfield et al 2 have wider implications in evaluating vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, we seek their views on whether measuring the viral RNA load in the maternal serum, which, akin to HIV, could have predicted the risk of vertical transmission. In addition, the detection of fetal IgM antibodies could have further supplemented the evidence in favor of, or against, vertical transmission. Thus, the chance for a more detailed evaluation of vertical transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 may have been missed and should be considered in future studies.

Vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: a systematic review

Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in placental and fetal membrane samples

Preterm delivery, maternal death, and vertical transmission in a pregnant woman with COVID-19 infection

Antibodies in infants born to mothers with COVID-19 pneumonia

Possible vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from an infected mother to her newborn

Severe COVID-19 during pregnancy and possible vertical transmission

This paper is part of a supplement that represents a collection of COVIDrelated articles selected for publication by the editors of AJOG MFM without additional financial support.The authors report no conflict of interest.