Fetal pulmonary artery Doppler evaluation in pregnant women after recovery from COVID-19

Objective To evaluate fetal lung development using pulmonary artery Doppler in pregnant women who had recovered from COVID-19. Methods The prospective case-control study included 41 pregnant women who had recovered from COVID-19 and 43 healthy pregnant women (control group). All the women in the study group had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and had completed a quarantine period. Results The demographic data of patients were similar in the groups (P > 0.05). Main pulmonary artery peak systolic velocity was higher and pulsatility indices were lower in pregnant women who recovered from COVID-19 compared to the controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.001). Acceleration time, ejection time, and acceleration/ejection time ratio (PATET) of the fetal MPA Doppler were significantly decreased in pregnant women who recovered from COVID-19 (P < 0.001, P = 0.036, and P = 0.002, respectively). The patients who had recovered from COVID-19 were divided into two groups: those treated with expectant management and those treated in hospital. The pulmonary artery acceleration time and PATET ratio were significantly lower in the group treated in the hospital (P = 0.023 and P = 0.045, respectively). Conclusion Detailed Doppler evaluations of the pulmonary artery may help in evaluating the fetal adverse effects of COVID-19 disease.

Automated summary

Evaluation of fetal lung development in pregnant women recovered from COVID-19 using pulmonary artery Doppler showed higher peak systolic velocity and lower pulsatility indices compared to healthy pregnant women. The study suggests that detailed Doppler evaluations of the pulmonary artery may help in assessing fetal adverse effects of COVID-19.