Key Points Physiological changes associated with pregnancy have a profound effect on how medications are handled in pregnant women. Most medications taken by pregnant women reach the fetus to varying degrees. The fetus is in part protected by placental efflux…
Key Points Influences during early life have substantial impact upon adult health and disease. This concept is most commonly known as the developmental origins of health and disease. Environmental, genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as interactions among these factors,…
Key Points Gene therapy for fetuses may provide a therapeutic advantage over postnatal treatment for certain congenital diseases. Three types of fetal gene therapy are available: direct ‘somatic’ fetal gene therapy, in utero transplantation of gene corrected fetal stem cells…
Key Points In utero transplantation (IUT) has the potential to cure or ameliorate many disorders before birth. Animal models for studying IUT have fundamental differences from human models in regard to immunologic ontogeny and placentation. Naturally occurring events during pregnancy…
Key Points Multiple pregnancies are at high risk for adverse perinatal outcome. The standard of care is early confirmation of chorionicity and timely referral when complications arise. Current available data report similar pregnancy-loss rates in twins for both chorionic villous…
Key Points Amniotic fluid (AF) volume is usually well regulated in pregnancy. Subjective or semiquantitative ultrasound measurement systems are used to identify and categorise disorders of AF volume. Low (oligohydramnios) or high (polyhydramnios) AF volumes are associated with increased maternal…
Key Points Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause both primary and nonprimary infections. Around 50% of the pregnant women are seronegative; 1% will develop primary infection during pregnancy. Prenatal diagnosis relies on CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in amniotic fluid (AF) sampled…
Key Points Fetal platelet disorder is a potentially life-threatening condition. Fetal thrombocytopenia may lead to fetal bleeding. complications, such as an intracranial haemorrhage. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Has an incidence of 1 to 2 in 1000 pregnancies. Causes severe fetal thrombocytopenia…
Key Points Fetal hydrops is defined as the accumulation of fluid in two fetal compartments (abdominal ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, skin or scalp oedema). It may also be associated with polyhydramnios and placental oedema. Immune hydrops is the result…
Key Points Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is practically defined as a sonographic estimated fetal weight of less than the 10th percentile for gestational age. In actuality, a growth-restricted fetus is one that is unable to meet its inherent growth potential…