COVID-19 SCIENCE UPDATES

COVID-19 at childbirth linked with higher risks; Antibody drugs appear to be safe

Pregnant women with COVID-19 face higher risks of childbirth complications than those who are not infected by the coronavirus, a new study found.

A separate study suggests mildly or moderately ill pregnant women with COVID-19 can safely be treated with monoclonal antibody drugs such as those from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

The analysis of childbirth complications included 244,645 births, 874 of which were in infected women.

Researchers reported on Tuesday in PLOS Medicine that miscarriage and stillbirth rates did not differ between the groups.

But after accounting for women's risk factors, researchers found that those with COVID-19 had 80% higher odds of having too much amniotic fluid, doubled odds of dangerously high blood pressure, more than doubled odds of amniotic infection, nearly tripled odds of hemorrhage during delivery, and nearly doubled odds of hemorrhage afterward.

They were also at higher risk for preterm delivery. "Pregnant women and those who plan to conceive... are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated," said study leader Dr. Sylvie Epelboin of the University of Paris.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota treated 51 pregnant patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 with one of several monoclonal antibody treatments.

"No adverse effects were reported, and no patient required COVID-19 related hospitalization," they reported on Sunday on medRxiv ahead of peer review. So far, 29 of the women have delivered healthy babies.

There was one miscarriage due to a congenital defect not related to the medication.

The investigators note that while the infusions were well tolerated, the study was a small one.

Further research is recommended to fully assess safety and efficacy in pregnancy, they said. -- Reuters