Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.

Congenital viral infections are believed to damage the developing neonatal brain. However, whether neonates exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) show manifestations of such damage remains unclear. For neurodevelopment evaluation, general movement assessments have b...

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Main Authors: Vania Aldrete-Cortez, Liliana Bobadilla, Silvia A Tafoya, Aline Gonzalez-Carpinteiro, Fernanda Nava, Carlos Viñals, Elsa Alvarado, Rosa Mendizabal-Espinosa, María Eugenia Gómez-López, Luz A Ramirez-Garcia, Alejandro Perez-Miguel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267575
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author Vania Aldrete-Cortez
Liliana Bobadilla
Silvia A Tafoya
Aline Gonzalez-Carpinteiro
Fernanda Nava
Carlos Viñals
Elsa Alvarado
Rosa Mendizabal-Espinosa
María Eugenia Gómez-López
Luz A Ramirez-Garcia
Alejandro Perez-Miguel
author_facet Vania Aldrete-Cortez
Liliana Bobadilla
Silvia A Tafoya
Aline Gonzalez-Carpinteiro
Fernanda Nava
Carlos Viñals
Elsa Alvarado
Rosa Mendizabal-Espinosa
María Eugenia Gómez-López
Luz A Ramirez-Garcia
Alejandro Perez-Miguel
author_sort Vania Aldrete-Cortez
collection DOAJ
description Congenital viral infections are believed to damage the developing neonatal brain. However, whether neonates exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) show manifestations of such damage remains unclear. For neurodevelopment evaluation, general movement assessments have been shown to be effective in identifying early indicators of neurological dysfunction, including the absence of fidgety movements. This study compared the early motor repertoire by general movement assessment at three to five months of age in neonates who were or were not prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 to determine whether infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 are at risk of developing neurological disorders. Fifty-six infants, including 28 in the exposed group of mothers without vaccination who had no need for intensive care and likely had SARS-CoV-2 infection close to the time of pregnancy resolution and 28 infants in the nonexposed group, were videotaped to compare their detailed early motor repertoires, in which a motor optimality score-revised (MOS-R) was calculated using Prechtl's method by using the chi-square or Mann-Whitney U tests. In the exposed group, 3 (11%) infants showed the absence of fidgety movements with a total MOS-R<14 points, and 3 (11%) other infants showed abnormal fidgety movements. Between groups, atypical body symmetry (p = 0.009) and MOS-R values were significantly lower (Z = -3.08, p = 0.002), with a large size effect (Cohen's d = 0.97). The consequences of this new virus go beyond the health of the pregnant mother, and these consequences in some of the infants in the exposed group are likely not transitory because of the absence of fidgety movements between 3-5 months; thus, these babies are at increased risk of developing a serious neurological disorder.
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spelling doaj.art-6d9221853f7f44cb8b68b3de112f0dbe2022-12-22T03:00:23ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01175e026757510.1371/journal.pone.0267575Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.Vania Aldrete-CortezLiliana BobadillaSilvia A TafoyaAline Gonzalez-CarpinteiroFernanda NavaCarlos ViñalsElsa AlvaradoRosa Mendizabal-EspinosaMaría Eugenia Gómez-LópezLuz A Ramirez-GarciaAlejandro Perez-MiguelCongenital viral infections are believed to damage the developing neonatal brain. However, whether neonates exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) show manifestations of such damage remains unclear. For neurodevelopment evaluation, general movement assessments have been shown to be effective in identifying early indicators of neurological dysfunction, including the absence of fidgety movements. This study compared the early motor repertoire by general movement assessment at three to five months of age in neonates who were or were not prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 to determine whether infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 are at risk of developing neurological disorders. Fifty-six infants, including 28 in the exposed group of mothers without vaccination who had no need for intensive care and likely had SARS-CoV-2 infection close to the time of pregnancy resolution and 28 infants in the nonexposed group, were videotaped to compare their detailed early motor repertoires, in which a motor optimality score-revised (MOS-R) was calculated using Prechtl's method by using the chi-square or Mann-Whitney U tests. In the exposed group, 3 (11%) infants showed the absence of fidgety movements with a total MOS-R<14 points, and 3 (11%) other infants showed abnormal fidgety movements. Between groups, atypical body symmetry (p = 0.009) and MOS-R values were significantly lower (Z = -3.08, p = 0.002), with a large size effect (Cohen's d = 0.97). The consequences of this new virus go beyond the health of the pregnant mother, and these consequences in some of the infants in the exposed group are likely not transitory because of the absence of fidgety movements between 3-5 months; thus, these babies are at increased risk of developing a serious neurological disorder.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267575
spellingShingle Vania Aldrete-Cortez
Liliana Bobadilla
Silvia A Tafoya
Aline Gonzalez-Carpinteiro
Fernanda Nava
Carlos Viñals
Elsa Alvarado
Rosa Mendizabal-Espinosa
María Eugenia Gómez-López
Luz A Ramirez-Garcia
Alejandro Perez-Miguel
Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.
PLoS ONE
title Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.
title_full Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.
title_fullStr Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.
title_full_unstemmed Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.
title_short Infants prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders: A comparative study.
title_sort infants prenatally exposed to sars cov 2 show the absence of fidgety movements and are at higher risk for neurological disorders a comparative study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267575
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