Case series of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy complicated by ketoacidosis and symptomatic breathlessness.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Thorne, Iona; Steele, Samantha; Martineau, Marcus; Girling, Joanna
- Source
- Obstetric Medicine (1753-495X). Mar2022, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p50-53. 4p.
- Subject
- *PNEUMONIA
*COVID-19
*TACHYPNEA
*BLOOD gases analysis
*DYSPNEA
*ACIDOSIS
*PREGNANCY
- Language
- ISSN
- 1753-495X
Background: The differential diagnosis of acute shortness of breath in a pregnant woman with COVID-19 is broad. Pregnancy is a ketosis-prone state, which can result in metabolic acidosis and tachypnoea. Methods: We describe four pregnant women with COVID-19 and breathlessness where ketoacidosis was found to contribute to symptomatic tachypnoea. Results: One patient did not have associated COVID-19 pneumonitis, but presented with severe tachypnoea and metabolic acidosis; three women had pneumonitis and metabolic acidosis. Corrective treatment for the metabolic abnormalities resulted in resolution of the ketoacidosis in all cases. No women had coexistent diabetes. Conclusion: This is the first series of COVID-19 in pregnancy complicated by ketoacidosis and symptomatic tachypnoea. Ketoacidosis associated with COVID-19 is an important cause of tachypnoea requiring specific treatment, which should not be overlooked. Potential mechanisms for this are discussed with a framework for interpretation of blood gas results during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]