Histopathological changes in placenta in pregnancies affected by Covid-19 infection

Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a novel zoonotic disease, was first discovered in late December 2019 following an outbreak of severe pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 infection leaves tell-tale signs of injuries in the placenta. This study was conducted to study the histopathological changes in placenta in pregnancies affected by COVID-19 infection in any trimester. Methods: It was a prospective observational study conducted in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics SKIMS MCH for a period of one year in all pregnant patients attending our department with the history of Covid 19 infection in any trimester during this pregnancy. The placentas of patients delivered by NVD or LSCS were sent for histopathology. Results: The women enrolled in the study were from Kashmir. The average age was 25-39 years. The average duration of pregnancy at delivery was 37-40 weeks. 37% pregnant women were affected by covid infection in their first trimester, 49% in 2nd trimester and 14% in third trimester. 29% had acute inflammatory pathology, 34% had chronic pathology, 23% had placental infarction meanwhile no placental pathology was seen in 49% patients. Conclusions: This study concludes that Covid 19 infection does affect the placentas in pregnancies complicated by Covid infection during any trimester of their pregnancy and it does play a role in the fetal outcome as well due to the placental changes.