Pregnancy course, obstetric and therapeutic tactics for novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in pregnant women

ABSTRACT

The novel coronavirus infection (NCI) (COVID-19) pandemic has posed real social, political and health challenges to the entire world. Many aspects of the management and course of this infection are controversial. The physiological characteristics of a pregnant woman's body place her, on the one hand, at risk for a more severe course of NCI, which has been confirmed in some studies. However, other authors point out that COVID-19 in pregnant women occurs in the same fashion or even more easily than in the general population. There are limited data on the prevalence of NCI among pregnant women in the Russian Federation. There are reports of both maternal and neonatal NCI-related deaths worldwide. There is a limited range of drugs used to treat NCI in pregnant women. Etiotropic therapy with a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir can be performed. Some publications have shown the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine in patients with severe NCI. A prevailing number of recommendations indicate that vaginal delivery is preferable for pregnant women with NCI;however, most of them deliver an infant via cesarean section. Spousal presence during childbirth and the possibility of breastfeeding remain controversial from ban (before having a negative COVID-19 test) to measures to support the women. There are no convincing data on the possibility of COVID-19 vertical transmission, but this issue and the rehabilitation of pregnant women who have experienced NCI (COVID-19) require further investigations. Conclusion. Pregnancy and childbirth do not worsen the course of NCI (COVID-19). However, there are risks for some pregnancy complications, as well as neonatal ones, during both pregnancy and the long periods after the experienced NCI (COVID-19), especially its severe types. There are no convincing data on the possibility of COVID-19 vertical transmission, but this issue and the rehabilitation of pregnant women who have experienced NCI (COVID-19) require further investigations. © A group of authors, 2020.