COVID-19 has been linked to increased blood clotting problems, and this can be especially dangerous during pregnancy. A study, carried out by members of the Vall d’Hebron Hospital, the Madrid Anatomopathological Center and the Italfarmaco Group, has discovered that pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 have a high risk of lesions in the placenta and in the umbilical cord .
The research, still preliminary in nature, called Plaxavid has focused on the evaluation of the incidence of histological lesions -related to human tissue- and microvascular lesions in the placenta and in the umbilical cord of a sample of 100 pregnant women with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.
The findings indicated that the rate of placentas with lesions of vascular or inflammatory origin was very high, 96% of the participants presented these problems. In addition, high levels of maternal vascular malperfusion and fetal vascular malperfusion –blood circulation problems– were also found, specifically a 76.8% and 57.6% risk, respectively.
Heparin is necessary in pregnant women with COVID-19
“These data double the incidence of these lesions in published series of pregnant women without pathology. These alterations suggest abnormalities in oxygenation and blood flow dynamics that are related to adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes”, explains Dr. Anna Suy, head of the Obstetrics Section of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the research. .
To prevent blood clotting problems during pregnancy, study indicates administration of heparin may be necessary
And it is that, these results add evidence to the already existing one that asks that COVID-19 be considered as a risk factor during pregnancy, since it can cause complications related to thrombi, since they generate in the organism a state of hypercoagulability that increases the risk of fatal problems in pregnancy.
“The results of Plaxavid provide scientific evidence that reinforces the need for thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in women with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy”, stressed Dr. José Montans, director of the Madrid Pathology Center . These punctures could prevent alterations in blood flow and avoid thrombi that put both maternal and fetal health at risk.
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