Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has had a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes due to the
effects of the virus and the altered healthcare environment. Stillbirth
has been relatively hidden during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a clear
link between SARS-CoV-2 and poor fetal outcome emerged in the Alpha and
Delta waves. A small minority of women/birthing people who contracted
COVID-19 developed SARS-CoV-2 placentitis. In many reported cases this
was linked to intrauterine fetal death, although there are cases of
delivery just before imminent fetal demise and we shall discuss how some
cases are sub-clinical. What is surprising, is that SARS-CoV-2
placentitis is often not associated with severe maternal COVID-19
infection, and this makes it difficult to predict. The worst outcomes
seem to be with diffuse placental disease and occurs within 21 days of
COVID-19 diagnosis. Poor outcomes are often pre-dated by reduced fetal
movements, but are not associated with ultrasound changes. In some
cases, there has also been maternal thrombocytopenia, or coagulation
abnormalities, which may provide a clue as to which pregnancies are at
risk of fetal demise if a further variant of concern is to emerge. In
future, multidisciplinary collaboration and cross-boundary working must
be prioritised, to quickly identify such a phenomenon and provide
clinicians with clear guidance for reducing fetal death and associated
poor outcomes. Whilst we wait to see if COVID-19 brings a future variant
of concern, we must focus on appropriate future management of women who
have had SARS-CoV-2 placentitis. The histopathology reports with
pathologies of chronic histiocytic villositis and/or massive perivillous
fibrin deposition fill clinicians with concern about future pregnancy
outcomes. However, we must remember, that in the context of a cause
(SARS-CoV-2) and no other history of concern, it is not likely that
SARS-CoV-placentitis will recur, and thus a measured approach to
subsequent pregnancy management is needed.