A case of pregnant woman with COVID-19 treated with prednisolone

Dexamethasone (DEX) administration is recommended for moderate to severe COVID-19 patients who require supplemental oxygen on Japanese guidelines. For pregnant women, prednisolone (PSL), which has less placental transfer, should be considered. However, there are currently limited case reports. This report reviews a case of pregnant woman with COVID-19 treated with PSL, in which a healthy baby was delivered after successful treatment. A 31-year-old pregnant woman (G2P1) with a BMI of 38 and gestational diabetes was admitted to the hospital at the gestational age of 19 weeks and 4 days, with a decrease in oxygen saturation of 95% on 3 L/min oxygen flow. Remdesivir 100 mg/day, PSL 40 mg/day, and subcutaneous heparin Ca 10,000 units/day were administrated and continued until 21 weeks gestation. At the gestational age of 38 weeks and 2 days, she gave birth to a 2,988 g female baby with Apgar 8/9 by elective Caesarean section. Although short-term DEX administration would have less effect on the fetus given the gestational age of pregnancy, we decided to administrate PSL based on the guidelines after consultation with pharmacists and clinical departments. This case report has suggested that PSL has the same therapeutic effect on COVID-19 as DEX.

Why do we focus on common cold and bacterial pneumonia

Common cold and influenza are often complicated by pneumococcal pneumonia, but the complication whereas pneumococcal pneumonia complicating COVID-19 is not common. Both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory viral infections, and their pathogenesis depends on the host immune response. Therefore, clinically, accurate pathogen diagnosis in the early stage of the clinical course for the purpose of formulating an appropriate treatment plan may contribute to improvement of the patient prognosis. Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in clinical manifestations, epidemiological history, laboratory findings and radiological findings, some of which were different and some of which were similar from influenza or any other common cold. We would like to emphasize the importance of researching the mechanism of pneumonia induced from common cold, influenza, COVID-19 and any other respiratory viral infection. Copyright © 2021 Japan Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Why do we focus on common cold and bacterial pneumonia

Common cold and influenza are often complicated by pneumococcal pneumonia, but the complication whereas pneumococcal pneumonia complicating COVID-19 is not common. Both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory viral infections, and their pathogenesis depends on the host immune response. Therefore, clinically, accurate pathogen diagnosis in the early stage of the clinical course for the purpose of formulating an appropriate treatment plan may contribute to improvement of the patient prognosis. Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in clinical manifestations, epidemiological history, laboratory findings and radiological findings, some of which were different and some of which were similar from influenza or any other common cold. We would like to emphasize the importance of researching the mechanism of pneumonia induced from common cold, influenza, COVID-19 and any other respiratory viral infection.