Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40500279›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2025

Cord blood cytokines/chemokines linked to delays in toddlers exposed to SARS-CoV-2 prenatally.

Renata Castro Kehdi, Maria Francilene Souza Silva, Letícia Régia Lima Cavalcante, Natália Gindri Fiorenza, Marylane Viana, Isabel Bessa Leite, Bruno Riccelli Dos Santos Silva, Débora Ferreira de Assis, Paulo Cesar Cortez, Deniele Lós Bezerra and 10 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Renata Castro KehdiNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Maria Francilene Souza SilvaNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Letícia Régia Lima CavalcanteNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Natália Gindri FiorenzaNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Marylane VianaNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Isabel Bessa LeiteNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Bruno Riccelli Dos Santos SilvaDepartment of Teleinformatics Engineering, Federal University of Ceara, Ceara, Brazil.
Débora Ferreira de AssisDepartment of Teleinformatics Engineering, Federal University of Ceara, Ceara, Brazil.
Paulo Cesar CortezDepartment of Teleinformatics Engineering, Federal University of Ceara, Ceara, Brazil.
Deniele Lós BezerraFaculty of Education and Integrated Sciences of Crateús, State University of Ceará (FAEC/UECE), Ceará, Brazil.
Pedro Crosara MottaBiomedical Engineering Program, COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
João Alexandre Lobo MarquesLaboratory of Applied Neurosciences-LAN/USJ, University of Saint Joseph, Macao, China.
Adriano José Maia Chaves FilhoNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Érica CorreiaEarly Treatment and Stimulation Center (NUTEP), Ceará, Brazil.
Allysson Allan FariasPostgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Fábio MiyajimaMolecular and Epidemiological Analysis Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Ceará), Ceará, Brazil.
Antônio Lúcio TeixeiraBiggs Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Moriah E ThomasonDepartments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Francisco Herlânio Costa CarvalhoAssis Chateaubriand Maternity Public Hospital (MEAC), Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Ceara, Brazil.
Danielle S MacedoNeuropsychopharmacology and Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil. danielle.macedo@ufc.br.ORCID 0000-0001-8980-9970

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMaternal infections are linked to neurodevelopmental impairments, highlighting the need to investigate SARS-CoV-2-induced immune activation.

objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal infection on neurodevelopment and investigate whether cytokine and chemokine profiles predict delays at 24 months.

methodsConducted in Brazil (January 2021-March 2022), this follow-up study included 18 SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women at 35-37 weeks' gestation, 15 umbilical cord blood samples, and blood samples from 15 children at 6 months and 14 at 24 months. Developmental delay was defined using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, with scores below 90 in cognitive, communication, or motor domains.

resultsAt 6 months, 33.3% of infants exhibited cognitive delays, 20% communication delays, and 40% motor delays, increasing to 35.71%, 64.29%, and 57.14% at 24 months, respectively. Elevated interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in cord blood correlated with cognitive delays, while interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-1β were associated with motor delays. Increased C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 and other cytokines were associated with communication delays.

conclusionMaternal SARS-CoV-2 may impact infant neurodevelopment, as early cytokine elevations correlate with delays, highlighting the importance of early monitoring and interventions to reduce long-term effects. IMPACT: Prenatal SARS-COV-2 infection in pregnant women is linked to developmental delays in toddlers, with cytokine and chemokine changes associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months. This study shows the long-term impact of maternal SARS-COV-2 infection on child development, highlighting inflammatory markers like IFN-γ, TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-1β, and CXCL10. Identifying specific cytokines correlating with cognitive, communication, and motor delays suggests potential biomarkers for early intervention. Conducted in Fortaleza, Brazil, the study emphasizes understanding local epidemiological impacts on child development, especially in regions with high infection rates. Graphical depiction of the SARS-CoV-2-induced maternal immune activation and its impact on the child's neurological development. Maternal immune activation from SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect a baby's neurological development, leading to motor, communication, and cognitive delays, assessed at 6 and 24 months old. Alterations in cytokine and chemokine levels in cord blood at six months may help predict these adverse outcomes observed at 24 months.

Indexed as

ChemokinesCOVID-19CytokinesDevelopmental DisabilitiesFetal BloodPregnancy Complications, InfectiousPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsSARS-CoV-2AdultBiomarkersBrazilChild, PreschoolFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfantBiomarkersChemokinesCytokines

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.