AIM: This study aims to assess differences in the mean maternal Vitamin D levels between severe preeclampsia (SPE) and normal pregnant women at the Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital Banda Aceh, Indonesia. METHODS: This research was a case–control study conducted at the Dr. Zainoel Abidin Regional General Hospital Banda Aceh. Pregnant women with confirmed SPE and normal pregnancies were involved in the study. The level of 25(OH)D3 was assessed by taking serum samples and examined by the enzyme immunoassay method. The Mann–Whitney U test analysis was conducted for bivariate analysis with a 95% confidence level. RESULTS: A total of 82 participants were involved in this study, with 41 subjects in the case group and 41 patients in the control group. A total of 30 SPE patients (70.3%) showed moderate Vitamin D deficiency. The mean levels of 25(OH)D3 in the SPE and normal pregnancy groups, respectively, were 14.43 ng/mL and 27.94 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Based on the 20 ng/mL cutoff point, the difference in 25(OH)D3 levels between the two groups showed an odd ratio (OR) of 15.05. CONCLUSION: Serum Vitamin D levels in SPE patients were two times lower than in the normal group. Evaluation of serum Vitamin D levels needs to be carried out periodically during pregnancy as a screening and diagnostic effort to prevent the potential development of SPE.

Background: Pregnant women are vulnerable against COVID-19 infection due to physiological and immunological changes. COVID-19 in pregnancy affects fetal well-being with a potential for vertical infection. Materials and Method: This study aims to determine the incidence of vertical infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in infants born to mothers with positive COVID-19 infection. Amniotic fluid, swabs of the newborn's nasopharynx and oropharynx, and swabs of the placenta were examined using RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Serological examination was performed by Electro-Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) on infant’s blood. Result: Four of 33 pregnant women gave birth to infants positive SARS-CoV-2 infection. RT-PCR examination of all amniotic fluid and placental swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four of 33 infants (12.1%) showed negative PCR results but positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, another 4 newborns (12.1%) showed positive PCR results, but no SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detected. The remaining 25 babies (75.8%) showed both negative PCR and serologic results. Conclusion: No evidence of vertical transmission found in this study.