ULB
" COVerT Our aim is to delineate more accurately the prevalence of the infection in the pregnant population and study vertical transmission in the cord blood of babies born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Determination of prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mothers by combined universal screening: presence of antibodies (IgG and IgM or IgA) in their blood and/or a positive RT-PCR in the nasopharyngeal swab. We intend to detect evidence of vertical transmission by the identification of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM or IgA in cord blood samples. If there is evidence of vertical transmission, the analysis of the consequences depending on infection timing during pregnancy will enable us to guide management more precisely. "
Funding: pending FNRS
Publication References: "1. Delforge ML, Costa E, Brancart F, Goldman D, Montesinos I, Zaytouni S, Marchant A, Donner C Presence of cytomegalovirus in urine and blood of pregnant women with primary infection might be associated with fetal infection. Journal of Clinical Virology DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2017.03.004. 2. Smits K, Pottier G, Smet J, Dirix V, Vermeulen F, De Schutter I, Carollo M, Locht C, Ausiello CM, Mascart F. Different T cell memory in preadolescents after whole-cell or acellular pertussis vaccination. Vaccine. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.10.056. . 3. Vermeulen F, Dirix V, Verscheure V, Damis E, Vermeylen D, Locht C, Mascart F. Persistence at one year of age of antigen-induced cellular immune responses in preterm infants vaccinated against whooping cough: comparison of three different vaccines and effect of a booster dose. Vaccine. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.02.004. 4. Dirix V, Verscheure V, Vermeulen F, De Schutter I, Goetghebuer T, Locht C, Mascart F. Both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes participate in the IFN-γ response to filamentous hemagglutinin from Bordetella pertussis in infants, children, and adults. Clin Dev Immunol. doi: 10.1155/2012/795958. 5. Vermeulen F, Verscheure V, Damis E, Vermeylen D, Leloux G, Dirix V, Locht C, Mascart F. Cellular immune responses of preterm infants after vaccination with whole-cell or acellular pertussis vaccines. Clin Vaccine Immunol. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00328-09. "
Contact: Caroline Daelemans, MD PhD, Directrice de la Clinique d'Obstétrique, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles
