Evaluation of COVID-19 IgG Antibodies in Maternal and Cord Blood Samples

Background

The clinical syndrome of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) first began in Wuhan China in December 2019 and subsequently spread globally at an exponential rate. The disease was officially classified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The first death from COVID-19 was reported in the United States on February 28, 2020.

In general, pregnancy is a state of relative immunosuppression, and alterations in immunology and physiology during pregnancy increase the risks of significant respiratory complications and associated obstetrical complications from severe illness. To date, data to guide understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy is relatively limited. With any viral illness in pregnancy, there is potential for maternal-fetal transmission. As of now, there have been very few reported cases of suspected vertical transmission. Moreover, there have been few cases of neonatal transmission, even in patients acutely ill with COVID-19 at the time of delivery. However, a recent case report highlighted a 19 week pregnancy loss in a COVID-19 positive patient where placenta pathology showed presence of COVID-19 by PCR, although fetal samples were negative.

As the United States begins to expand testing from viral to antibody testing, opportunity exists to determine if maternal antibodies are present in neonates. If present, these antibodies may confer protection for neonates born to infected mothers. During the course of any infection, IgM antibodies are formed with subsequent development of IgG antibodies. Regardless of source, maternal IgM antibodies do not readily cross the placenta barrier, while maternal IgG antibodies easily cross the placenta during pregnancy. Fetuses are capable of initiating an IgM response to infection in utero. Cord blood serves as a non-invasive source of neonatal blood that can be easily obtained at delivery and allows assessment of the neonate.

Hypothesis

We hypothesize that cord blood collected from COVID-19 positive women will show presence of IgG antibodies against COVID-19 which may confer protection for the infant in the neonatal period.

Objective

To collect: 1. maternal blood samples for COVID-19 IgG antibodies on admission to labor and delivery; 2. cord blood samples for COVID-19 IgG antibodies at the time of delivery; 3. placenta pathology.

Study Type:

Prospective cohort study of pregnant COVID-19 positive patients at delivery admission or at any point during the pregnancy.

Study Methods:

Eligible patients will be invited to participate in the study during pregnancy or on admission to labor and delivery. Eligible patients will have had a positive COVID-19 PCR test at some time during pregnancy or on the delivery admission. Informed consent will be obtained by admitting physician from patients who agree to participate. A maternal blood sample will be obtained with routine admission labs by nursing staff. This sample will be sent for immunoassay for qualitative assessment for COVID-19 IgG antibodies. C-reactive protein will also be measured as this is an indicator of severe disease. At delivery, cord blood and placenta samples will be obtained as per routine collection methods by the delivery physician. Cord blood will be sent for the same analysis as the maternal blood sample. The placenta will be sent to pathology. Results will be obtained through the patient's medical record. Data will be collected into a Redcap database by research personnel. Neonatal data will be obtained from the neonate's medical record and entered into the Redcap database by research personnel. Any publications resulting from this study will use de-identified patient data.

The benefit of this study will be contribution to the limited data that exists around COVID-19 infection and pregnancy.

Data Analysis

Statistical analysis for this study will include descriptive analysis and quantitative statistics of findings.