Prompt Placental Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Assessment after SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Pregnancy-Our Perspective of a Small Group.

Research indicates compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission as a result of placental pathology. This study offers an approach to histopathological and immunohistochemical placental observations from SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers compared to negative ones. Out of the 44 examined placentas, 24 were collected from patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and 20 were collected from patients without infection. The disease group showed strong SARS-CoV-2 positivity of the membranes, trophoblasts, and fetal villous macrophages. Most infections occurred during the third trimester of pregnancy (66.6%). Pathology revealed areas consistent with avascular villi (AV) and thrombi in the chorionic vessels and umbilical cord in the positive group, suggesting fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM). This study shows SARS-CoV-2 has an impact on coagulation, demonstrated by fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (p = 0.01) and fibrin deposition (p = 0.01). Other observed features included infarction (17%), perivillous fibrin deposition (29%), intervillous fibrin (25%), delayed placental maturation (8.3%), chorangiosis (13%), chorioamnionitis (8.3%), and meconium (21%). The negative control group revealed only one case of placental infarction (5%), intervillous fibrin (5%), delayed placental maturation (5%), and chorioamnionitis (5%) and two cases of meconium (19%). Our study sheds light on the changes and differences that occurred in placentas from SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers and the control group. Further research is necessary to definitively establish whether SARS-CoV-2 is the primary culprit behind these intricate complications.

Incidence and Spectrum of Chromosome Abnormalities in Miscarriage Samples: A Retrospective Study of 330 Cases.

Embryonic chromosome abnormalities are the most important causes of early spontaneous abortions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spectrum and the frequencies of chromosomal anomalies in spontaneous miscarriages and to correlate these with maternal and gestational age. A retrospective study was conducted based on data obtained from a single medical genetics laboratory that collects cases from Western Romania. Long-term cultures of chorionic villus samples were established for karyotype analysis by GTG banding. Additionally, we performed QF-PCR to detect aneuploidies for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. In total, chorionic villi samples of 330 miscarriages (from August 2007 to November 2018) were analyzed. Results were obtained for 90.6% (299/330) of the cases. The remaining 9.4% (31/330) were excluded from evaluation due to inconclusive results. An abnormal karyotype was found in 156 cases (47.27%), while in 143 cases (43.33%) a normal karyotype was present. Of the abnormal cases, 88 (56.4%) had trisomies, 25 (16.0%) presented polyploidies, 25 (16.0%) had monosomy X, and 19 (11.5%) chromosome rearrangements. QF-PCR analysis identified aneuploidy in 2 out of 8 samples (25%). Cytogenetic investigations of spontaneous abortions provide valid data as to the cause of the abortion. This information may also be helpful for genetic counseling and considering future pregnancies.