Fetal pericardial effusion after maternal COVID-19 vaccination: a fortuitous association?

Sandra Mattos; Maria Chaves; Carolina Freitas; Rossana Severi; Petra Brissant; Daniela Davino; Vinicius Souto-Maior

doi:10.5114/pcard.2022.117550

eISSN: 2449-6731
ISSN: 2449-6723

Prenatal Cardiology

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abstract:

Research paper

Fetal pericardial effusion after maternal COVID-19 vaccination: a fortuitous association?

Sandra da Silva Mattos

^{1, 2}

,

Maria T. Bernardino Chaves

²

,

Carolina Paim Freitas

²

,

Rossana Severi

²

,

Petra Brissant

²

,

Daniela Davino

²

,

Vinicius Souto-Maior

³

Maternal-Fetal Cardiac Unit, Real Hospital Portuguęs de Beneficęncia em Pernambuco, Brazil
Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keiso Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil

Prenat Cardio 2022; 12(1): 20-24

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pcard.2022.117550

Online publish date: 2022/06/24

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Introduction
Studies monitoring COVID-19 and its vaccines are warranted to expand knowledge about the virus and its effects in humans. The objective of this study was to compare the reasons for referral and the fetal echocardiographic results during (PAND: Mar/20-Aug/21) and before (PREP: Set/19-Feb/20) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods
Single outpatient centre, retrospective study.

Results
Single outpatient centre, retrospective study. Results: A total of 10,778 fetal echocardiograms were performed; 10,732 corresponding to initial examinations performed in 10,551 pregnancies (10,376 singletons; 171 twins; 2 triplets; 2 quadruplets). Only first-time exams were reviewed. There were 5652 during PREP and 5080 during PAND. Maternal ages (X) varied between 14 and 46 years (X–_PREP = 29.1and X–_PAND = 29.2), and gestational weeks (Y) varied between 16 and 39 weeks (Y–_PREP = 26.9 and Y–_PAND = 27.6). The exams were not performed in women with known active COVID-19 infection. In PREP, more women were referred due to maternal or fetal risk factors. During PAND, more women were referred due to a suspected heart defect on ultrasound. During PAND we identified more fetuses with congenital heart disease and arrhythmias. A higher incidence of pericardial effusion, without structural heart disease, was observed during the months of June, July, and August 2021, compared to the remaining months (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
The identification of more structural heart disease during PAND may reflect changes in referral patterns. The increase in isolated pericardial effusion coincided with the period of massive COVID-19 immunization. We hypothesize that this finding may reflect a transient inflammatory response that could signal to fetal immunization against SARS-CoV-2.

keywords:

Fetal pericardial effusion after maternal COVID-19 vaccination: a fortuitous association?

Sandra da Silva Mattos 1, 2 , Maria T. Bernardino Chaves 2 , Carolina Paim Freitas 2 , Rossana Severi 2 , Petra Brissant 2 , Daniela Davino 2 , Vinicius Souto-Maior 3

fetal echocardiography, pericardial effusion, COVID-19

Sandra da Silva Mattos

^{1, 2}

,

Maria T. Bernardino Chaves

²

,

Carolina Paim Freitas

²

,

Rossana Severi

²

,

Petra Brissant

²

,

Daniela Davino

²

,

Vinicius Souto-Maior

³