ABSTRACT
Neonatal COVID-19 is rare and mainly results from postnatal transmission. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), however, can infect the placenta and compromise its function. We present two cases of decreased fetal movements and abnormal fetal heart rhythm 5 days after mild maternal COVID-19, requiring emergency caesarean section at 29 + 3 and 32 + 1 weeks of gestation, and leading to brain injury. Placental examination revealed extensive and multifocal chronic intervillositis, with intense cytoplasmic positivity for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody and SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR. Vertical transmission was confirmed in one case, and both neonates developed extensive cystic peri-ventricular leukomalacia.
Subject(s)
Brain Injuries/etiology , COVID-19/complications , Placenta/virology , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology , Adult , Brain Injuries/pathology , COVID-19/physiopathology , COVID-19/virology , Cesarean Section , Female , Fetal Movement , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical , Leukomalacia, Periventricular/etiology , Leukomalacia, Periventricular/pathology , Placenta/pathology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/physiopathology , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Faces hold a substantial value for effective social interactions and sharing. Covering faces with masks, due to COVID-19 regulations, may lead to difficulties in using social signals, in particular, in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. Daily-life social participation of individuals who were born preterm is of immense importance for their quality of life. Here we examined face tuning in individuals (aged 12.79 ± 1.89 years) who were born preterm and exhibited signs of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a dominant form of brain injury in preterm birth survivors. For assessing the face sensitivity in this population, we implemented a recently developed experimental tool, a set of Face-n-Food images bordering on the style of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The key benefit of these images is that single components do not trigger face processing. Although a coarse face schema is thought to be hardwired in the brain, former preterms exhibit substantial shortages in the face tuning not only compared with typically developing controls but also with individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. The lack of correlations between the face sensitivity and other cognitive abilities indicates that these deficits are domain-specific. This underscores impact of preterm birth sequelae for social functioning at large. Comparison of the findings with data in individuals with other neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions provides novel insights into the origins of deficient face processing.
Subject(s)
Brain/physiology , Facial Recognition , Pattern Recognition, Visual , Premature Birth , Social Cognition , Adolescent , Autism Spectrum Disorder , COVID-19 , Child , Cognition , Cognitive Neuroscience , Facial Expression , Female , Humans , Leukomalacia, Periventricular , Pregnancy , Quality of Life , Recognition, Psychology/physiology , Sex Factors , Social Behavior , Visual Perception/physiologyABSTRACT
Current evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that neonatal SARS-coronavirus-2 infections usually have a mild course. Data on how maternal infection during pregnancy affects fetal development are scarce. We present the unique case of a moderate preterm infant with intracranial bleeding and periventricular leukomalacia as a potential consequence of post-COVID-19 hyperinflammation during pregnancy.