Respiratory distress in SARS-CoV-2 exposed uninfected neonates followed in the COVID Outcomes in Mother-Infant Pairs (COMP) Study
Nature Communications · 2024
Uninfected term newborns of mothers with COVID-19 had unusually high rates of respiratory distress — less frequent when mothers had been vaccinated before infection.
Research question
Is maternal COVID-19 vaccination related to respiratory distress in SARS-CoV-2-exposed but uninfected newborns?
Clinical & scientific significance
Maternal vaccination against COVID-19 was associated with fewer cases of neonatal respiratory distress.
Key findings reported in the paper
- 17% of SARS-CoV-2-exposed uninfected infants had respiratory distress.
- Term newborns of unvaccinated mothers had 3.06-fold odds of respiratory distress versus those of mothers vaccinated before infection (95% CI 1.08–10.21).
- Proteomics showed a robust inflammatory response with ciliary dysregulation and enhanced IgE production in affected newborns.
- respiratory distress in exposed, uninfected newborns
- 17%
- term infants of unvaccinated vs vaccinated mothers
- OR 3.06
- mothers enrolled (227 exposed fetuses)
- 221
Objectives
To examine maternal COVID-19 parameters, vaccination and neonatal respiratory distress, and to propose a biological pathway using proteomics.
Methods
COMP Study longitudinal cohort in Los Angeles: 221 mothers with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and 227 exposed fetuses; multivariable logistic regression plus a proteomic sub-analysis.
This summary is based only on the published abstract.
Reading the immune response in blood
01
Blood samples
Maternal serum, cord blood and newborn serum.
02
Proteomic profiling
Hundreds to more than 1,400 proteins and cytokines measured at once.
03
Comparison
Exposed versus unexposed, or infants with versus without an outcome.
04
Pathway signatures
For example NF-κB inflammation, IFN-λ signaling, IL-1β/IL-18, apoptosis.
05
Candidate biomarkers
Markers that may flag infants who need closer follow-up.
Read the publication
Authors
Man OM, Azamor T, Cambou MC, Fuller TL, Kerin T, Paiola SG, Cranston JS, Mok T, Rao R, Chen W, Jung JU, Martinez VF, Foo SS, Nielsen-Saines K
Citation
Respiratory distress in SARS-CoV-2 exposed uninfected neonates followed in the COVID Outcomes in Mother-Infant Pairs (COMP) Study. Nat Commun. 2024; 15(1):399. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-44549-5. PMID: 38267411.
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