The clinical impact of maternal COVID-19 on mothers, their infants, and placentas with an analysis of vertical transfer of maternal SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies

  1. J.D. Ward
  2. C. Cornaby
  3. T. Kato
  4. R.C. Gilmore
  5. D. Bunch
  6. M.B. Miller
  7. R.C. Boucher
  8. J.L. Schmitz
  9. F.A. Askin
  10. L.R. Scanga

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Abstract

No abstract available

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  1. Version published to 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.04.006
  2. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2022.02.01.22270179: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Ethicsnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Antibodies
    SentencesResources
    SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies against the spike tetramer, S1, RBD, S2, and nucleocapsid proteins were detected from patient serum or plasma utilizing the LabScreen COVID plus multiplex bead assay (OneLambda) per manufacturer instructions on the LabScan3D platform (Luminex).
    SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG
    suggested: None
    S2
    suggested: None
    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    Statistical analysis: All statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism version 9.2.0 except for polynomial and linear trend analysis, which were performed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365).
    GraphPad Prism
    suggested: (GraphPad Prism, RRID:SCR_002798)
    Microsoft Excel
    suggested: (Microsoft Excel, RRID:SCR_016137)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    However, a limitation of the study was the lack of truly normal control placentas. The placentas received for pathologic examination at UNC are ordered by clinicians for known or suspected maternal, placental, or fetal conditions and are not sent from uncomplicated deliveries. Our study also lacked blinding to the maternal diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and allowed access to the mothers’ chart, which may present a risk for bias. However, since our results were similar to previously published studies [4],[11,16], it is likely that this potential bias did not significantly affect the placental examination. Recently, it has been shown [17–21] that maternal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy is a rare event, which was confirmed in our current study. A recent review [22] found that breastfeeding, mother-to-infant contact, and the method of delivery did not increase the risk for neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. A possible reason for this protection is vertical transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specfic antibodies from the mother to the infant. In support of this hypothesis, several recent studies [6–8] have demonstrated the vertical transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies. Interestingly, these studies report an efficiency of transfer of these antibodies as low as 25 percent [8] and as high as 87 percent [6]. However, these studies characterized the vertical transfer of antibodies targeted against a single SARS-CoV-2 epitope. Conversely, our study simultaneously characterized t...

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  3. Version published to 10.1101/2022.02.01.22270179v1 on medRxiv