SARS-CoV-2 AND PLACENTAL BARRIER: PROSPECT OF MATERNAL-FETAL TRANSMISSION

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-COV-2) otherwise called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic affecting millions of people. The placental barrier separates the fetal circulation from maternal blood in the placenta during pregnancy in humans, which plays an essential role in fetal development and health. This barrier tightly controls the exchange of endogenous and exogenous substances between the mother and the developing fetus. One of the major concerns is whether or not the SARS-COV-2 can be vertically transmitted from a pregnant mother to her developing fetus and what fetal anomalies can result from the infection. This review is aimed at evaluating the current knowledge on maternal, perinatal and neonatal outcomes and transmissibility of SARS-COV- 2 infection. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library until January 2021. The following keywords were used for the search “SARS-COV-2 and pregnancy, SARS-COV-2 transmission to fetus, vertical transmission of SARS-COV-2”. Some authors proposed no maternal-fetal transmission of SARS-COV-2 while other reports suggested a probable vertical transmission of the novel corona virus based on two major evidences. More research and viable data are needed to establish the fact.

Key Words: SARS-COV-2, SARS-COV-2, Placenta, Vertical transmission, Pregnancy, Fetus