scholarly journals COVID-19 and cause of pregnancy loss during the pandemic: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255994
Author(s):  
Seyyedeh Neda Kazemi ◽  
Bahareh Hajikhani ◽  
Hamidreza Didar ◽  
Sareh Sadat Hosseini ◽  
Sara Haddadi ◽  
...  

Introduction The association between Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and abortion has been debated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to conduct this systematic review to understand better the potential effects of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on fetal loss in infected mothers presented with abortion following this infection. Methods We included articles published in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov, and Embase databases in 2019 and 2020 through a comprehensive search via appropriate keywords, including COVID-19 and abortion synonyms. All studies with the abortion data in COVID-19 confirmed pregnant females were collected. Results Out of 208 potentially relevant articles, 11 articles were eligible to include in the systematic review. The included reports were published because of the following reasons: (1) First-trimester miscarriage; (2) Late miscarriage; (3) complication of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy; (4) COVID-19 disease in artificial pregnancy. First-trimester abortion was found in 5 studies, and second-trimester abortion in 7 studies. Two patients acquired infection during the hospital stay while they were referred for abortion. Reports related to abortion in pregnant females with COVID-19 show that most miscarriages due to COVID-19 in the first trimester were due to placental insufficiency. Conclusions There is an increased risk of abortion in mothers with a positive test result of SARS-CoV-2, which several case reports and case series have identified during the pandemic. Placental inflammation during the viral infection may result in fetal growth retardation and induce abortion. There has not been any consistent evidence of vertical transmission of the virus from mother to fetus, which requires further investigation.

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e021793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Bunch ◽  
Nia Roberts ◽  
Marian Knight ◽  
Manisha Nair

ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review to investigate the safety of induction and/or augmentation of labour compared with spontaneous-onset normal labour among pregnant women with iron-deficiency anaemia.DesignSystematic review.SettingStudies from all countries, worldwide.PopulationPregnant women with iron-deficiency anaemia at labour and delivery.InterventionAny intervention related to induction and/or augmentation of labour.Outcome measuresPrimary: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), heart failure and maternal death. Secondary: Emergency caesarean section, hysterectomy, admission to intensive care unit.MethodWe searched 10 databases, including Medline and Embase, from database inception to 1 October 2018. We included all study designs except cross-sectional studies without a comparator group, case reports, case series, ecological studies, and expert opinion. The searches were conducted by a healthcare librarian and two authors independently screened and reviewed the studies. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approachto ascertain risk of bias and conducted a narrative synthesis.ResultsWe identified 3217 journal articles, 223 conference papers, 45 dissertations and 218 registered trials. Ten articles were included for full-text review and only one was found to fulfil the eligibility criteria. This was a retrospective cohort study from India, which showed that pregnant women with moderate and severe anaemia could have an increased risk of PPH if they underwent induction and/or augmentation of labour, but the evidence was weak (graded as ‘high risk of bias’).ConclusionThe best approach is to prevent anaemia, but a large number of women in low-to-middle-income countries present with severe anaemia during labour. In such women, appropriate peripartum management could prevent complications and death. Our review showed that at present we do not know if induction and augmentation of labour is safe in pregnant women with iron-deficiency anaemia and further research is required.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42015032421.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S37-S50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A Yu ◽  
Emmy L Tran ◽  
Corinne M Parker ◽  
Hye-Joo Kim ◽  
Eileen L Yee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The safety profile of antimicrobials used during pregnancy is one important consideration in the decision on how to treat and provide postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for plague during pregnancy. Methods We searched 5 scientific literature databases for primary sources on the safety of 9 antimicrobials considered for plague during pregnancy (amikacin, gentamicin, plazomicin, streptomycin, tobramycin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, sulfadiazine, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [TMP-SMX]) and abstracted data on maternal, pregnancy, and fetal/neonatal outcomes. Results Of 13 052 articles identified, 66 studies (case-control, case series, cohort, and randomized studies) and 96 case reports were included, totaling 27 751 prenatal exposures to amikacin (n = 9), gentamicin (n = 345), plazomicin (n = 0), streptomycin (n = 285), tobramycin (n = 43), chloramphenicol (n = 246), doxycycline (n = 2351), sulfadiazine (n = 870), and TMP-SMX (n = 23 602). Hearing or vestibular deficits were reported in 18/121 (15%) children and 17/109 (16%) pregnant women following prenatal streptomycin exposure. First trimester chloramphenicol exposure was associated with an elevated risk of an undescended testis (odds ratio [OR] 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–28.7). Doxycycline was associated with cardiovascular malformations (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7) in 1 study and spontaneous abortion (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9–4.1) in a separate study. First trimester exposure to TMP-SMX was associated with increased risk of neural tube defects (pooled OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.3), spontaneous abortion (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.3–5.6), preterm birth (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.1), and small for gestational age (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.2). No other statistically significant associations were reported. Conclusions For most antimicrobials reviewed, adverse maternal/fetal/neonatal outcomes were not observed consistently. Prenatal exposure to streptomycin and TMP-SMX was associated with select birth defects in some studies. Based on limited data, chloramphenicol and doxycycline may be associated with adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes; however, more data are needed to confirm these associations. Antimicrobials should be used for treatment and PEP of plague during pregnancy; the choice of antimicrobials may be influenced by these data as well as information about the risks of plague during pregnancy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (06) ◽  
pp. 614-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Gessi ◽  
Rossella Marcucci ◽  
Monica Gianni ◽  
Anna Grandi ◽  
Massimo Franchini ◽  
...  

AbstractElevated plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk in several clinical studies. However, there is a lack of data supporting a positive association between elevated Lp(a) levels and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Thus, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to better clarify its role as a risk factor for VTE. Medline and the Embase (up to May 2015) electronic databases were used to identify potentially eligible studies. Studies measuring Lp(a) values in adult patients with deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism and in a population of patients without a VTE were selected. Studies on patients with major venous thromboembolic events occurring at other unusual site, case reports, and case series were excluded. The odds ratios (ORs) of the association between high values of Lp(a) and VTE and the weighted mean difference (WMD) in Lp(a) levels in cases and in controls were calculated using a random-effect model. Results were presented with 95% confidence interval (CI). Fourteen studies for a total of more than 14,000 patients were finally included in our analysis. Lp(a) was slightly but significantly associated with an increased risk of VTE (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.79; 10 studies, 13,541 patients). VTE patients had significantly higher Lp(a) values compared with controls (WMD: 14.46 mg/L, 95% CI: 12.14, 16.78; 4 studies, 470 patients). Lp(a) appeared to be significantly associated with increased risk of VTE. However, Lp(a) levels were only slightly increased in VTE patients compared with controls.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stamatios Petousis ◽  
George Karavas ◽  
Chrysoula Margioula-Siarkou ◽  
Themistoklis Dagklis ◽  
Paraskevi Karapavlidou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Deficiency of factor XII (FXII) is widely considered to have a detrimental effect on pregnancy. Several reports underline the increased risk for antenatal complications with few published case reports of uncomplicated deliveries. The main objective of our article is to perform a systematic review to highlight pregnancies with severe deficiency of FXII that have been delivered uneventfully, along with presenting our relative case of a woman with severe deficiency of FXII. Materials and methods A systematic review was performed in the Pubmed database. Inclusion criteria were considered to be case reports and case series presenting delivery of uncomplicated pregnancies in women with severe FXII deficiency. Medical records of our patient were also reviewed in terms of signs and symptoms, laboratory and imaging examinations and neonatal outcomes. Results There were 62 abstracts derived while 44 were assessed for eligibility. There were finally three case reports of women with FXII deficiency delivering live newborns and one case series of 12 women with a final outcome of 19 deliveries. Regarding our case presentation, the woman with FXII levels <12%, after a neonatal death because of extreme prematurity (24 weeks + 4 days), was set in regular follow-up and treatment with bemiparin natriate, 3.5 mg/kg and acetylsalicylic acid, 100 mg/day. She finally managed to have her second pregnancy delivered at 38 weeks + 3 days, her third pregnancy ended up as a miscarriage and her fourth pregnancy was also delivered at 37 weeks + 4 days. Conclusion Despite the increased risk for antenatal complications, appropriate follow-up of pregnancies with severe FXII pregnancy may finally lead to an uneventful delivery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parham Mardi ◽  
Marzieh Esmaeili ◽  
Parisa Iravani ◽  
Mohammad Esmail Abdar ◽  
Kumars Pourrostami ◽  
...  

Recent studies have shown that several children diagnosed with COVID-19 have developed Kawasaki Disease (KD)-like symptoms. This systematic review aims to assess the demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of children with KD-like syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate efficacy of treatments and patients' outcome. A comprehensive search was carried out systematically through PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS), medRxiv, and bioRxiv by two reviewers independently for all studies or preprints data on the demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of children with K.D-like signs during the COVID-19 outbreak. Overall, 378 studies were identified by the systematic search, of which 25 studies were included in the study. The included studies involved 599 patients in total. Thirteen studies (52%) were case reports or case series, and the rest (48%) were cohort studies. In 19 studies, patients were diagnosed with Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). In 16 studies COVID-19 was diagnosed in all patients based on their polymerase chain reaction result, serological findings, and computed tomography results. Higher C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate level were the most prevalent laboratory findings. In most studies, patients had leucopenia with marked lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and increased ferritin, as well as hyponatremia. Abnormal echocardiography and respiratory outcomes were the most common clinical outcomes. In 11 studies, all patients required intensive care unit admission. Findings of the present systematic review show that the incidence of KD-like syndrome in the COVID-19 pandemic increased significantly. Moreover, this study offers new insights in the KD-like syndrome pathogenesis and clinical spectrum during COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Hage ◽  
Carolin Steinack ◽  
Christian Benden ◽  
Macé M. Schuurmans

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is causing a pandemic of unknown precedent, with huge healthcare challenges and worldwide disruptions to economic and social life. Lung transplant recipients and other solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are immunosuppressed, and therefore are generally considered at an increased risk for severe infections. Given the current gap in knowledge and evidence regarding the best management of these patients, we conducted a systematic review of studies on SARS-CoV-2 infections and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in SOT recipients, to evaluate the association between immunosuppression in these patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes. The focus was the severity of the disease, the need for mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and rate of death. The literature search was conducted repeatedly between 16 March and 8 April 2020. We searched original papers, observational studies, case reports, and meta-analyses published between 2019 and 2020 using two databases (PubMed, Google Scholar) with the search terms: [transplant OR immunosuppression] AND [COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2]. Further inclusion criteria were publications in English, French, German and Italian, and reference to humans. We also searched the reference lists of the studies encountered. From an initial search of PubMed and Google Scholar, 19 potential articles were retrieved, of which 14 were excluded after full-text screening (not being case reports or case series), leaving 5 studies for inclusion. No further studies were identified from the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Based on the limited research, no firm conclusions can be made concerning SOT recipients, but the current evidence suggests that immunosuppression is most likely associated with a better outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 because it prevents hyperinflammation (cytokine storm) in this particular population. There is a need for further research that would allow results to be adjusted for other factors potentially impacting COVID-19 severity and outcome.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249166
Author(s):  
Fátima Cristiane Pinho de Almeida Di Maio Ferreira ◽  
Anamaria Szrajbman Vaz da Silva ◽  
Judith Recht ◽  
Lusiele Guaraldo ◽  
Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira ◽  
...  

Objectives To describe and estimate the frequency of pregnancy outcomes, clinical and laboratory characteristics of vertical transmission of CHIKV in the neonate. Study design We performed a systematic review evaluating the clinical presentation of perinatally-acquired CHIKV infection in neonates. The search was performed using Medline (via PubMed), LILACS, Web of Science, Scielo, Google Scholar and Open grey to identify studies assessing vertical transmission of CHIKV up to November 3, 2020. There were no search restrictions regarding the study type, the publication date or language. Studies with no documented evidence of CHIKV infection in neonates (negative RT-PCR or absence of IgM) were excluded. Results From the 227 studies initially identified, 42 were selected as follows: 28 case reports, 7 case series, 2 cross-sectional studies and 5 cohort studies, for a total of 266 CHIKV infected neonates confirmed by serological and/or molecular tests. The vertical transmission rate was 50% in the Reunion Island outbreak, which was the subject of the majority of the studies; the premature delivery were reported in 19 (45.2%) studies; the rate of fetal distress was 19.6% of infected babies and fetal loss occurred in 2% of the cases. Approximately 68.7% of newborns were diagnosed with encephalopathy or encephalitis after perinatally acquired CHIKV. Most of the infected neonates were born healthy, developing CHIKV sepsis clinical syndrome within the first week of life. Conclusions We alert neonatologists to the late manifestations of neonatal CHIKV infection, relevant to the management and reduction of morbidity. A limitation of our review was that it was not possible to carry out meta-analysis due to differences in study design and the small number of participants.


Endoscopy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaurya Prakash ◽  
B. Joseph Elmunzer ◽  
Erin M Forster ◽  
Gregory Cote ◽  
Robert Moran

Background and Aims: EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) has emerged as a viable, completely endoscopic method for performing pancreaticobiliary interventions in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy. The aims of this systematic review are: 1) to describe indications, outcomes and complications of EDGE; and 2) to identify deficiencies in our knowledge of important technical approaches and clinical outcomes. Patients and methods: A systematic review was conducted via comprehensive search of MEDLINE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Cochrane to identify studies focused on EDGE outcomes. Simple descriptive statistics were derived from case series only. Case reports were only included to qualitatively describe additional indications, techniques, and adverse events (AE). Results: The initial search identified 2143 abstracts. Nine case series and eight case reports were included. In the nine case series, 169 patients underwent EDGE. Technical success was 99% (168/169) for gastrogastrostomy/jejunogastrostomy creation and 98% (166/169) for subsequent ERCP. Minor AE specifically related to EDGE occurred in 18% (31/169) and included intraprocedural stent migration/malposition (n=27) and abdominal pain (n=4). Moderate AE specific to EDGE occurred in 5% (9/169) and included: bleeding (2%); persistent fistula (1%); and perforation (1%). Severe AE occurred in one patient due to perforation requiring surgery. Deficiency in reporting on clinical significance of AE’s was identified. Conclusion: Based on limited observational data, in expert hands EDGE has a high rate of technical success and an acceptable rate of AE’s. As a novel procedure, many knowledge gaps need to be addressed to inform the design of meaningful comparative studies and guide informed consent.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1437
Author(s):  
Amado Jiménez-Ruiz ◽  
Palak Shah ◽  
Andrew Gibson ◽  
Juan Camilo Vargas-González ◽  
Luciano A. Sposato

Background: Thrombi identified on echocardiography at the time of straddling a patent foramen ovale (PFO) constitute a medical emergency with an associated imminent risk of death.  Ischemic stroke (IS) and myocardial infarction (MI) occurring in patients with a thrombus straddling a PFO (TSPFO) may be associated with increased risk of in-hospital death. Variables associated with increased risk of death in women and men may be different. We will perform a systematic review of case reports and cases series of patients with a TSPFO to assess if IS and MI are associated with increased risk of in-hospital death and we will further stratify analyses by sex. Methods: This systematic review will include all case reports and case series of adult patients (18-year-old or older) with echocardiographic or pathological (e.g. at autopsy for older reports) evidence of a TSPFO published between inception and June 30, 2020, in any language. We will search in PubMed and Embase databases. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, retrieve full texts, and extract the data in a predesigned form. We will apply a multivariable logistic regression analysis to estimate the association of IS and MI with in-hospital mortality. We will stratify analyses by sex.  Discussion: IS and MI in patients with TSPFO could potentially be associated with worse outcomes if they are not timely identified or left untreated.  Both acute IS and MI require specific treatment (e.g. thrombolysis, primary coronary intervention, or mechanical thrombectomy) that may be influenced by the therapy instituted for the TSPFO. Knowing the incidence of acute IS and MI among patients diagnosed with TSPFO and whether they are associated with an increased risk of death would help to improve the management of this medical emergency. Protocol registration: CRD42020216118, PROSPERO.


Author(s):  
Sandipan Pati

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe goal of this systematic review is to assess the published literature for seizure risk with chloroquine therapy in persons with and without epilepsy. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a desperate need for therapy against the SARS CoV-2 virus. Chloroquine is one proposed medication that has received substantial public attention. However, drug labeling in the package insertion states that persons with epilepsy have the risk of chloroquine provoking seizures, and this has increased questions and anxiety in the epilepsy community.MethodsPubMed (1970 to March 27, 2020) and the Embase (1970 to March 27, 2020) were searched with the terms chloroquine and seizure or epilepsy. Selected studies were reviewed, and the adverse drug reaction was classified.ResultsOnly nine out of 27 studies were deemed eligible for systematic analysis. Out of the nine studies, only one was a prospective study (N=109), two were case series (N=6), and the remaining 6 were case reports. The dose of chloroquine ranged between 100-500 mg/day, except in one patient, the seizure was after taking 1000 mg. The strength of causality for the drug causing seizures in healthy and persons with epilepsy was mostly possible or unlikely, and none were certain. The only clinical trial that evaluated seizure risk with chloroquine failed to find any significant relation.ConclusionAlthough the drug insertion label states an increased risk of seizure, the systematic review highlights that such a statement is not supported by any class I studies but by anecdotal case reports. The only randomized clinical study revealed that seizures were not associated with an increased blood level of chloroquine or its metabolite. The present systematic review should provide reassurance to busy clinicians and persons with epilepsy that chloroquine, if prescribed to treat COVID-19, lacks any substantial evidence to suggest that the medication increases the risk of seizure.


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