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Prenatal Diagnosis and Intervention: Shaping the Future of Maternal–Fetal Medicine
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Prenatal Diagnosis and Intervention: Shaping the Future of Maternal–Fetal Medicine

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Obstetrics & Gynecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2026 | Viewed by 1456

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Misgav Rottenstreich

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
2. Department of Nursing, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem, Israel
Interests: fetal growth restriction; twin pregnancies; preterm birth; diabetes in pregnancy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maternal–fetal medicine (MFM) represents a dynamic field of healthcare that continually evolves to enhance maternal and fetal well-being. This Special Issue, entitled “Prenatal Diagnosis and Intervention: Shaping the Future of Maternal–Fetal Medicine”, aims to provide a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research, clinical insights, and evidence-based practices in the realm of MFM.

Our primary objective is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge among clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals, fostering collaborative efforts to address contemporary challenges in the care of expectant mothers and their unborn children. We invite contributions that encompass a wide spectrum of topics within MFM, including, but not limited to, prenatal screening, diagnostic techniques, perinatal interventions, obstetric complications, and neonatal outcomes.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of original research articles and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding of MFM. We encourage submissions that explore innovative diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and multidisciplinary approaches to optimize maternal–fetal care.

We invite researchers and clinicians to contribute their expertise to this collaborative effort, ultimately advancing the field of maternal–fetal medicine and improving outcomes for pregnant individuals and their infants.

Dr. Misgav Rottenstreich
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • diabetes in pregnancy
  • hypertension in pregnancy
  • cholestasis in pregnancy
  • endocrine disorder in pregnancy
  • sepsis in pregnancy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4703 KB  
Article
Totally Percutaneous Fetoscopic Repair of Open Spina Bifida: A Single-Center Experience with Perinatal, Obstetric, and Early Functional Outcomes
by Yuval Gielchinsky, Roie Alter, Ana Idelson, Kinneret Tenenbaum-Gavish, Nir-Ram Duvdevani, Arie Jaffe, Arnon Wiznitzer, Ido Ben Zvi, Ivan Novizki, Eyal Elron, Gil Klinger, Sharon Orbach-Zinger, Denise Araujo Lapa and Amir Kershenovich
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(11), 4088; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114088 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 277
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate perinatal, obstetric, and early functional outcomes following totally percutaneous fetoscopic repair of open spina bifida (OSB) using the skin-over-biocellulose for antenatal fetoscopic repair (SAFER) technique. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all fetuses who underwent totally percutaneous fetoscopic [...] Read more.
Objectives: To evaluate perinatal, obstetric, and early functional outcomes following totally percutaneous fetoscopic repair of open spina bifida (OSB) using the skin-over-biocellulose for antenatal fetoscopic repair (SAFER) technique. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all fetuses who underwent totally percutaneous fetoscopic repair of OSB at a single tertiary referral center between September 2018 and March 2026. Eligibility was based on predefined clinical criteria. Data on maternal, fetal, operative, and neonatal outcomes were collected. The primary outcomes included perinatal and obstetric results, need for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion within the first year of life, and early functional outcomes, including motor improvement and ambulation. Exploratory analyses were performed to assess associations between procedural factors and obstetric outcomes. Results: Twenty-two fetuses underwent fetoscopic repair. The procedure was completed in 95% of cases. Median gestational age at surgery was 28.2 weeks. Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurred in 68% of cases, and the median gestational age at delivery was 32.7 weeks. All fetuses were live-born, with no neonatal deaths. Maternal outcomes were favorable, with no maternal mortality and no ICU admissions. Vaginal delivery was achieved in 50% of cases, with no uterine rupture or dehiscence. The rate of CSF diversion within the first year was 31.8%. Reversal of hindbrain herniation was observed in 95% of cases. A motor improvement of ≥2 levels was achieved in 68% of patients, with no cases of functional deterioration. Community ambulation at ≥24 months was observed in 53% of cases with available follow-up. Conclusions: Totally percutaneous fetoscopic repair of OSB using the SAFER technique was associated with favorable perinatal, obstetric, and early functional outcomes in this single-center cohort. The high incidence of PPROM and subsequent preterm delivery remains an obstetrical challenge. Maternal safety profile, including the preservation of uterine integrity for vaginal delivery, and the early neurological benefits were encouraging. Our results support the feasibility of this approach and highlight the absolute necessity of multidisciplinary expertise and structured training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Diagnosis and Intervention: Shaping the Future of Maternal–Fetal Medicine)
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Review

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14 pages, 588 KB  
Review
Fetal MRI Biomarkers and the Prenatal Origins of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review
by Mariarosaria Motta, Laura Sarno, Dario Colacurci, Daniela Terracciano, Silvia Visentin, Erich Cosmi, Camilla Grelloni, Andrea Ciavattini, Stefano Raffaele Giannubilo and Giuseppe Maria Maruotti
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(9), 3502; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093502 - 3 May 2026
Viewed by 691
Abstract
Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly conceptualized as a neurodevelopmental condition with prenatal origins. Advances in fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including high-resolution structural imaging and resting-state functional connectivity analysis, now enable in vivo characterization of the developing human brain before [...] Read more.
Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly conceptualized as a neurodevelopmental condition with prenatal origins. Advances in fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including high-resolution structural imaging and resting-state functional connectivity analysis, now enable in vivo characterization of the developing human brain before birth. This review examines whether fetal MRI biomarkers are associated with later ASD diagnosis or autistic traits. Methods: We conducted a PRISMA-informed narrative review of human studies identified through MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included original human investigations using fetal MRI to assess brain structure and/or function, with postnatal ASD diagnosis or standardized autistic-trait outcomes. Results: Eight eligible studies provide converging evidence that neurodevelopmental divergence associated with ASD may be detectable in utero. Structural analyses consistently report prenatal volumetric alterations, particularly enlargement of the insular cortex between the second and third trimesters. Additional findings of regional overgrowth and hemispheric asymmetries suggest distributed deviations in cortical maturation. Functional fetal MRI studies further demonstrate atypical large-scale network organization prior to birth. Altered connectivity within cingulate, prefrontal, temporal, and cerebellar circuits has been prospectively associated with later autistic traits, indicating that network-level integration may diverge before behavioral symptoms emerge. Evidence from high-risk conditions, including isolated ventriculomegaly and tuberous sclerosis complex, reinforces the association between prenatal structural abnormalities and increased ASD risk. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that structural and functional brain alterations identifiable by fetal MRI may precede the clinical manifestation of ASD. These findings support a model of ASD as a condition potentially rooted in prenatal neurodevelopmental divergence. However, larger, standardized, multicenter studies are required before fetal MRI biomarkers can be translated into predictive or clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Diagnosis and Intervention: Shaping the Future of Maternal–Fetal Medicine)
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