{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on fetal umbilical vein flow and cardiac function: a prospective study.
{Author}: Rizzo G;Mappa I;Pietrolucci ME;Lu JLA;Makatsarya A;D'Antonio F;Rizzo G;Mappa I;Pietrolucci ME;Lu JLA;Makatsarya A;D'Antonio F;
{Journal}: J Perinat Med
{Volume}: 50
{Issue}: 4
{Year}: May 2022 25
{Factor}: 2.716
{DOI}: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0657
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To explore whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect umbilical vein blood flow (UVBF) and fetal cardiac function.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Prospective case-control study of consecutive pregnancies complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second half of pregnancy matched with unaffected women. Measurements of UVBF normalized for fetal abdominal circumference (UVBF/AC), atrial area (AA) and ventricular sphericity indices (SI) were compared between the two study groups. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were sued to analyze the data.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Fifty-four consecutive pregnancies complicated and 108 not complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. The median gestational age at infection was 30.2 (interquartile range [IQR] 26.2 34.1). General baseline and pregnancy characteristics were similar between pregnant women with compared to those without SARS-CoV-2 infection. There was no difference in UVBF/AC (study groups z value -0.11 vs. 0.14 control p 0.751) values between pregnancies complicated compared to those not complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Likewise, there was no difference in the left and right AA (left 1.30 vs. 1.28 p=0.221 and right 1.33 vs. 1.31 p=0.324) and SI (left 1.75 vs. 1.77 p=0.208 and right 1.51 vs. 1.54 p=0.121) between the two groups.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>SARS-CoV-2 infection does not affect UVBF and fetal cardiac function in uncomplicated pregnancies.