Analysis of complement deposition and viral RNA in placentas of COVID-19 patients Journal Article
| Authors: | Mulvey, J. J.; Magro, C. M.; Ma, L. X.; Nuovo, G. J.; Baergen, R. N. |
| Article Title: | Analysis of complement deposition and viral RNA in placentas of COVID-19 patients |
| Abstract: | COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is increasingly being recognized as a systemic thrombotic and microvascular injury syndrome that may have its roots in complement activation. We had the opportunity to study the placental pathology of five full-term births to COVID-19 patients. All five exhibited histology indicative of fetal vascular malperfusion characterized by focal avascular villi and thrombi in larger fetal vessels. Vascular complement deposition in the placentas was not abnormal, and staining for viral RNA and viral spike protein was negative. While all cases resulted in healthy, term deliveries, these findings indicate the systemic nature of COVID-19 infection. The finding of vascular thrombosis without complement deposition may reflect the systemic nature of COVID-19's procoagulant effects unrelated to systemic complement activation. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. |
| Keywords: | immunohistochemistry; adult; clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; histopathology; virus rna; thrombosis; placenta; cd59 antigen; decidua; complement membrane attack complex; complement activation; human; female; priority journal; article; complement component c3d; complement component c4d; virus spike protein; complement deposition; coronavirus disease 2019; fetus circulation; virus spike |
| Journal Title: | Annals of Diagnostic Pathology |
| Volume: | 46 |
| ISSN: | 1092-9134 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2020-06-01 |
| Start Page: | 151530 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2020.151530 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC7182529 |
| PUBMED: | 32387855 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Source: Scopus |
