Haemostatic and thrombo-embolic complications in pregnant women with COVID-19: a systematic review and critical analysis

Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were case reports or case series, of pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection and where the outcome of the pregnancy (either ongoing or delivered) was reported. There was no language restriction. We only included cases where either the mother had confirmed COVID-19 based on a positive swab, or a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19 where a swab had not been taken e.g. symptoms and radiographic evidence in an area of high COVID-19 prevalence.

We identified all scientific case reports and case series of confirmed or suspected maternal COVID-19 in pregnancy. The basis of the list was a curated list kept by the senior author (JGT) on his personal blog since March 22nd. This is a curated list of primary sources based on a daily PubMed search supplemented by alerts from colleagues on social media. After April 8th this list was supplemented by formal daily searches by KO and KFW.

The search was undertaken between 8th April to May 2020 through the following electronic bibliographic databases (Medline, Embase and Maternity and Infant Care Database) and citation tracking on relevant studies. The search terms associated with COVID-19 used in bibliographic databases were adapted in database-specific filters. The searches were re-run just before the final analyses and further studies retrieved for inclusion. The date of the last search was 05/06/2020. The search strategy is shown in Appendix 1. The dataset is available at: https://​ripe-tomato.​org/​2020/​05/​15/​covid-19-in-pregnancy-101-onwards/​.

Titles and abstracts identified by the search strategy were assessed for inclusion by two reviewers (KW, KO). If there was disagreement about whether a report should be included, full text was obtained for that report.

For all potentially eligible studies full text copies were sought, and independently assessed for inclusion by two reviewers (KW, KO). Disagreements were resolved by discussion, and if agreement could not be reached the study was independently assessed by a third reviewer (JGT).

One-hundred-sixty-five papers were identified according to this methodology and 69 papers met inclusion criteria (see Fig. 1). Additional cases known to the authors were added from registries including the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) database, the East Midlands Research group (a group recently formed for the investigation of non-malignant haematological changes in pregnancy) and from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis’ Pregnancy and COVID-19-Associated Coagulopathy (COV-PREG-COAG) Registry.

Coagulopathy events were recorded as stated by the authors. If haematological results were given, the DIC in pregnancy score was calculated, based on the prothrombin time, platelet count and fibrinogen levels. This scoring system has shown a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 96% for the diagnosis of DIC in pregnancy [4].

Few papers specifically stated negative findings for coagulopathy or thrombosis. Cases were therefore considered negative for these events if it was specified that there were no complications during the observed clinical course, or if patients were stated to have recovered/be recovering, or discharged without mention of coagulopathy or thrombosis.

Characteristics of each study were described and tabulated. Confidence intervals for the outcomes given were calculated using software available at: https://​epitools.​ausvet.​com.​au/​ciproportion.

Haemostatic and thromboembolic complications have been reported in 0.98 and 0.28% of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection respectively. The absolute risk of thromboembolic complications in pregnant women without COVID-19 is 0.1% [41]. Estimates of the incidence of DIC in pregnant women range between 0.03 to 0.35% [42]. Our findings suggest that the risk of haemostatic and thromboembolic complications are higher in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection than in pregnant women without COVID-19 infection.

Our review is the largest reported to date, even following removal of potential duplicates. The precision of our estimates is therefore greater.

Many primary studies were case reports or hospital-based series, which are at risk of bias towards cases or findings of interest, resulting in potential overestimation of complications. On the other hand, few papers specifically stated that there were no haemostatic complications in each case. Our assumption that this means an absence of complications may result in an underestimate, as theoretically complications may have been present, but not reported.

The DIC score used to identify cases from laboratory findings is a composite of prothrombin time, platelet counts and fibrinogen levels [4]. However, coagulopathy in COVID-19 is associated with a modest change in these parameters [5], meaning that the DIC score alone may be less accurate as a measure of COVID-19 coagulopathy in pregnancy. In addition, many authors did not report fibrinogen levels or prothrombin time, which will have falsely lowered our rate estimate of coagulopathy. D-dimer, like C-reactive protein (CRP), is an acute phase reactant, which can be elevated in trauma or any inflammatory condition. Elevated D-dimer levels are difficult to interpret, as the etiology of their rise can be multifactorial. D-dimer elevations can occur during an uncomplicated pregnancy, though typically they are not as pronounced as in some of the cases in this study, where the values were reported. Pneumonia as well has been associated with high D-dimer levels, as have thromboembolic events. As reported in Pereira et al, pregnant women who were classified as having severe clinical features of pneumonia in COVID-19 had higher D-dimer and CRP [7]. On the other hand, significant elevations of D-dimer were also noted in two reported cases of COVID-19 associated coagulopathy in pregnancy, neither of which were complicated by pneumonia or significant respiratory compromise [42]. While lack of standardisation of D-dimer thresholds in pregnancy renders interpretation challenging, in these two cases D-dimer levels were grossly elevated, at 17- and 12- fold the upper limit of normal [42].

The efficacy of D-dimer in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy has been investigated, with conflicting results. The DiPEP (diagnosis of PE in pregnancy) group concluded, using D-dimer measurement by ELISA (counted as negative if < 400 ng/ml) and using Innovance technology (reference range 1–1.3 mg/L), that D-Dimer was not useful for the diagnosis of PE in the context of pregnancy [43]. However, Van der Pol et al. reported that D-dimer measurement could be used in order to rule out PE in this group [44], using a cut of value of > 1000 ng/ml if nil clinical criteria were met, or < 500 ng/ml where wither there were clinical signs of either deep vein thrombosis; haemoptysis or where PE was the most likely diagnosis. Thus, the potential prognostic value of D-dimer in pregnancy in the setting of COVID-19 cannot be dismissed outright and deserves further investigation. Additionally, other tools for assessing hypercoagulability or other forms of coagulopathy such as Thromboelastography™ /Thromboelastometry™ are worth evaluating. An ISTH review and recommendation for the use of these technologies in obstetrics has recently been published [45].

Sentilhes [33] found no cases of thromboembolic disease or thrombocytopenia among 54 pregnant women with COVID-19 including five women who were admitted to ICU in Strasbourg. Guan [46] reported one case of DIC among 1099 cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in non-pregnant patients of all ages (0.1% of cases). Tang [1] noted a higher incidence of coagulopathy in non-survivors which is in keeping with our findings. Whilst uncommon in pregnant women with COVID-19, our data suggests that the identification of haemostatic and coagulopathic changes may have value in the identification of women at risk of deterioration.

Our findings suggest that haematological complications are more commonly observed in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection (1.26%) than in pregnant women without (0.45%) and support the current advice from the RCOG recommending that all pregnant women admitted with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 receive prophylactic low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), unless birth is expected within 12 h, and continue this for 10 days following discharge.

Despite findings of elevated D-dimer in patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 outside of pregnancy, the occurrence of DIC and thrombotic events is infrequently reported [6]. We have found this to also be the case where COVID-19 is described in pregnancy; perhaps in part due the resultant coagulopathy being distinct from DIC and/or secondary to a lack of standardised cut off values for coagulation parameters for the diagnosis of coagulopathy in COVID-19 in the context of pregnancy. Nonetheless, identification of haemostatic and thrombotic complications may still be of clinical importance in recognizing pregnant patients who are at a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19.

To diagnose coagulopathy in a pregnant woman with COVID-19, we would recommend checking a full blood count, D dimer/fibrin degradation products (FDP), clotting screen and fibrinogen and using these parameters to calculate the pregnancy related DIC score. These parameters are useful if the woman needs delivery and can guide blood product support. Othman et al provide practical suggestions on interpretation of these laboratory parameters based on expert consensus [8].

Despite findings of DIC, there is no evidence that correcting abnormal coagulation parameters in patients who are not actively bleeding is beneficial. This advice covers all patients with COVID associated DIC. The only difference for pregnant women would be if they required delivery. Do not use tranexamic acid; recovery from DIC is dependent on endogenous fibrinolysis to break down the disseminated thrombi. This process is inhibited by tranexamic acid, an anti-fibrinolytic drug. If there is bleeding associated with DIC give blood product replacement.

Given the increased chances of thrombosis in a normal pregnancy there needs to be a high index of suspicion of VTE in this patient group if they also have COVID-19. One cannot rely on the D dimer to determine chances of VTE; you should not do that anyway even without COVID but in COVID it is likely to be much higher. If the woman is near to delivery, then the coagulation parameters and platelet count will have potential implications for delivery and guidance from a haematologist would be appropriate on an individual patient basis.

Investigation and management for suspected thrombosis should be the same as non-COVID pregnant woman.

Continued collection of data on specific parameters of thrombosis and haemostasis from pregnant women affected by COVID-19 is necessary to further elucidate the incidence, prognostic value, and implications of coagulopathy, and thromboembolism in pregnancy.

More detailed investigation of coagulation abnormalities may also be useful. These could include studies such as specialised factor assays (taking into account the normal haemostatic changes that occur in pregnancy).

Determination of specific cut-off values of aberrant haemostatic parameters associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancy is needed. Given the rarity of the condition, even in the face of a global pandemic, and in absence of systematic studies or until data from randomised control trials become available, international registries can be of immense value in achieving this aim. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis has developed the Pregnancy and COVID-19-Associated Coagulopathy (COV-PREG-COAG) Registry, precisely to fulfil this aim. Participation in the Registry is open to health care providers worldwide and can be accessed at: https://​redcap.​isth.​org/​surveys/​?​s=​4JPX9W98RH.