We established an international consortium to review and discuss relevant clinical evidence in order to develop expert consensus statements related to cancer management during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The steering committee prepared 10 working packages addressing significant clinical questions from diagnosis to surgery. During a virtual consensus meeting of 62 global experts and one patient advocate, led by the European Society for Medical Oncology, statements were discussed, amended and voted upon. When consensus could not be reached, the panel revised statements until a consensus was reached. Overall, the expert panel agreed on 28 consensus statements that can be used to overcome many of the clinical and technical areas of uncertainty ranging from diagnosis to therapeutic planning and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objective This study aimed to describe two cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and resulting in premature delivery.
Study Design The clinical course of two women hospitalized with ARDS due to COVID-19 care in our intensive care (ICU) is summarized; both participants provided consent to be included in this case series.
Results Both women recovered with no clinical sequelae. Neonatal outcomes were within the realm of expected for prematurity with the exception of coagulopathy. There was no vertical transmission to the neonates.
Conclusion This case series highlights that ECMO is a feasible treatment in the pregnant woman with severe COVID-19 and that delivery can be performed safely on ECMO with no additional risk to the fetus. While ECMO carries its natural risks, it should be considered a viable option during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Key Points
While pregnancy increases the risk for severe COVID19, the clinical and immunological implications of COVID19 on maternal-fetal health remain unknown. Here, we present the clinical and immunological landscapes of 93 COVID19 mothers and 45 of their SARS-CoV-2-exposed infants through comprehensive serum proteomics profiling for >1400 cytokines of their peripheral and cord blood specimens. Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers NF-κB-dependent proinflammatory immune activation. Pregnant women with severe COVID19 show increased inflammation and unique IFNλ antiviral signaling, with elevated levels of IFNL1 and IFNLR1. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 infection re-shapes maternal immunity at delivery altering the expression of pregnancy complication-associated cytokines, inducing MMP7, MDK, ESM1, and reducing BGN and CD209. Finally, COVID19-exposed infants exhibit induction of T cell-associated cytokines (IL33, NFATC3 and CCL21), while some undergo IL-1β/IL-18/CASP1 axis-driven neonatal respiratory distress despite birth at term. Our findings demonstrate COVID19-induced immune rewiring in both mothers and neonates, warranting long-term clinical follow-up to mitigate potential health risks.
Automated three-dimensional ultrasound imaging using artificial intelligence can reliably identify and measure fetal biparietal diameter and head circumference, but is less consistent in accurately identifying and measuring transcerebellar diameter, cisterna magna and posterior horn of the lateral ventricle.
What are the clinical implications of this work?Further optimization of this automated ultrasound imaging technology for fetal head biometry based on machine learning is necessary prior to incorporation into routine sonographic protocols.
ObjectiveTo evaluate neuromotor repertoires and developmental milestones in infants exposed to antenatal COVID-19.DesignLongitudinal cohort study.SettingHospital-based study in Los Angeles, USA and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil between March 2020 and December 2021.ParticipantsInfants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy and prepandemic control infants from the Graz University Database.InterventionsGeneral movement assessment (GMA) videos between 3 and 5 months post-term age were collected and clinical assessments/developmental milestones evaluated at 6–8 months of age. Cases were matched by gestational age, gender and post-term age to prepandemic neurotypical unexposed controls from the database.Main outcome measuresMotor Optimality Scores Revised (MOS-R) at 3–5 months. Presence of developmental delay (DD) at 6–8 months.Results239 infants were enrolled; 124 cases (83 in the USA/41 in Brazil) and 115 controls. GMA was assessed in 115 cases and 115 controls; 25% were preterm. Median MOS-R in cases was 23 (IQR 21–24, range 9–28) vs 25 (IQR 24–26, range 20–28) in controls, p<0.001. Sixteen infants (14%) had MOS-R scores <20 vs zero controls, p<0.001. At 6–8 months, 13 of 109 case infants (12%) failed to attain developmental milestones; all 115 control infants had normal development. The timing of maternal infection in pregnancy (first, second or third trimester) or COVID-19 disease severity (NIH categories asymptomatic, mild/moderate or severe/critical) was not associated with suboptimal MOS-R or DD. Maternal fever in pregnancy was associated with DD (OR 3.7; 95% CI 1.12 to 12.60) but not suboptimal MOS-R (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.96).ConclusionsCompared with prepandemic controls, infants exposed to antenatal COVID-19 more frequently had suboptimal neuromotor development.
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