Russian scientists develop method to assess post-COVID pregnancy risks

Researchers at the Far Eastern Research Center for Physiology and Respiratory Pathology have developed a method to assess the risk of pregnancy complications in women who contracted COVID-19 during their second trimester. The technique aims to identify risks of fetal development disorders caused by placental dysfunction, which often presents without early symptoms.

According to Professor Irina Andrievska of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the method uses mathematical calculations of immunological markers to detect hidden threats before they impact the fetus, allowing for timely preventive therapy. The approach focuses on the mother's immune system, specifically using flow cytometry to determine the expression levels of two receptors, IL-2R and IL-17R, in the blood.

These values are entered into a mathematical formula to calculate a prognostic index. By comparing this index to a threshold value, clinicians can categorize patients into high or low-risk groups for pathologies in the third trimester. This development addresses the ongoing risk posed by circulating COVID-19 strains to pregnant women.