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Advances in Maternal Fetal Medicine
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Advances in 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: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 3502

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Georgios Eleftheriou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Emergency Department, Poison Control Center, Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24100D Bergamo, Italy
Interests: depression; anxiety disorder; pregnancy; breastfeeding; antidepressants; anxiolytics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anna Franca Cavaliere

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gemelli Isola Hospital, Via di Ponte Quattro capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Interests: gynecology; anxiety disorder; depression; pregnancy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The progress of maternal fetal medicine is notable and requires the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of specialists (obstetricians, neonatologists, toxicologists). Various maternal and fetal diseases are currently curable thanks to the development of diagnostic techniques and maternal or fetal treatment.

This special issue focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of high-risk pregnancies as well as the treatment of fetal pathologies. Moreover, the information published regarding the safety of the drugs administration during pregnancy offers exceptional care for many complications during pregnancy, infectious diseases, poor neonatal adaptation due to maternal drug therapy or substances abuse.

In this Special Issue, we welcome authors to submit papers on the clinical advance of maternal fetal medicine in terms of both diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Georgios Eleftheriou
Dr. Anna Franca Cavaliere
Guest Editors

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

  • drugs use during pregnancy
  • fetal treatment
  • pregnancy complications
  • infectious diseases
  • neonatal poor adaptation syndrome

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 255 KB  
Article
Sex-Specific Variation in Maternal Serum Screening Markers Across the First and Second Trimesters: Evidence from 10,384 Screened Pregnancies
by Mehmet Çopuroğlu, Hüseyin Aksoy, Mehmet Genco, Merve Genco and Cemal Ünlü
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(3), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031276 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 730
Abstract
Background: Maternal serum screening remains widely implemented for prenatal aneuploidy assessment despite increased uptake of cell-free DNA testing. Evidence suggests that fetal sex may influence placental endocrine function and maternal serum biomarker levels; however, available studies are inconsistent and often limited by [...] Read more.
Background: Maternal serum screening remains widely implemented for prenatal aneuploidy assessment despite increased uptake of cell-free DNA testing. Evidence suggests that fetal sex may influence placental endocrine function and maternal serum biomarker levels; however, available studies are inconsistent and often limited by sample size or incomplete adjustment for maternal factors. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether fetal sex independently modifies first- and second-trimester maternal serum marker Multiple of the Median (MoM) values and whether sex-related biochemical variation affects trisomy-21 screen-positive classification. Methods: A retrospective cohort was identified from institutional screening records (10,384 screened pregnancies), of which 5040 first-trimester and 1476 second-trimester cases had complete biochemical data. First-trimester PAPP-A and free β-hCG, as well as second-trimester AFP, uE3, and free β-hCG, were measured. Implausible MoM values (<0.10 or >5.00) were excluded. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models adjusted for maternal age, maternal weight, gestational age at sampling, and parity assessed independent associations. Results: Pregnancies with female fetuses showed significantly higher MoM values for first-trimester PAPP-A and free β-hCG as well as second-trimester AFP and uE3. The magnitude of these differences was small, and no significant differences were observed in trisomy-21 screen-positive rates between fetal sex groups. Conclusions: Fetal sex independently influences several maternal serum markers across both trimesters but does not result in clinically meaningful differences in trisomy-21 screening outcomes under current algorithms. Any potential relevance of fetal sex for risk interpretation should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and requires outcome-validated investigation before clinical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal Fetal Medicine)

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

24 pages, 330 KB  
Review
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Current Insights into Pathogenesis and Clinical Management: A Narrative Review
by Marzena Laskowska
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(8), 2974; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15082974 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 785
Abstract
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a distinct condition that presents as heart failure (HF) in a woman who was previously healthy and has no prior cardiovascular issues. It results from idiopathic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, characterized by a reduced LV ejection fraction below 45%. [...] Read more.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a distinct condition that presents as heart failure (HF) in a woman who was previously healthy and has no prior cardiovascular issues. It results from idiopathic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, characterized by a reduced LV ejection fraction below 45%. PPCM is a life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate (MR) that demands urgent treatment. Methods: This narrative review aims to define PPCM and its pathophysiology and conduct a scoping review of the latest data on the management of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Results: Currently, treatment follows standard HF protocols for reduced ejection fraction, with the possible addition of bromocriptine, and during pregnancy, medications that do not harm the fetus. Conclusions: Early, aggressive therapy is essential for a better prognosis, but managing PPCM can be challenging. Treatment of PPCM patients should be led by a team of highly qualified specialists, known as the Obstetric and Cardiac Care Team, comprising an obstetrician-perinatologist, an anesthesiologist, a cardiologist, and a cardiac intensive care specialist. Baseline left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are the main prognostic factors. LVEF less than 30%, significant LV dilatation, LVEDD ≥ 6.0 cm, and right ventricular involvement are factors indicative of a poor prognosis. While pregnancy after PPCM is possible, it should be discouraged due to the significant risk of complications and even death. The most common causes of death in patients with PPCM are thromboembolic complications, severe HF, serious ventricular arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, and sudden cardiac arrest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal Fetal Medicine)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

20 pages, 453 KB  
Systematic Review
The Role of microRNA-210 in the Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Preeclampsia—A Systematic Review
by Oana Eliza Cretu, Alina Alexandra Dirlau, Adrian Valeriu Neacsu, Adina Elena Nenciu and Iuliana Ceausu
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(21), 7593; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217593 - 26 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1464
Abstract
Background: Preeclampsia is a complex hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis involves placental hypoxia, oxidative stress, and impaired trophoblast invasion. Recent evidence highlights the role of microRNAs, particularly microRNA-210 (miR-210), in the molecular [...] Read more.
Background: Preeclampsia is a complex hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis involves placental hypoxia, oxidative stress, and impaired trophoblast invasion. Recent evidence highlights the role of microRNAs, particularly microRNA-210 (miR-210), in the molecular disruptions underlying preeclampsia. Aim: This study aims to explore the pathogenic, diagnostic, and therapeutic significance of miR-210 in preeclampsia, with emphasis on its molecular mechanisms, biomarker potential, and prospects as a therapeutic target. Methods: A systematic narrative review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 498,184 articles were identified through eight scientific databases, and, after duplicate removal and eligibility screening, 111 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included in the final analysis. The selected literature focused on miR-210’s expression in placental tissue and maternal circulation, its molecular targets, and its clinical relevance. Results: miR-210 is consistently upregulated in preeclamptic placentas and maternal plasma. It contributes to shallow trophoblast invasion, impaired angiogenesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the activation of a hypoxia-induced HIF-1α feedback loop. These mechanisms are central to the disease’s pathophysiology. Clinically, miR-210 demonstrates high stability in circulation and early detectability, making it a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Experimental models have also demonstrated the therapeutic potential of miR-210 inhibition using antisense oligonucleotides or HIF-1α modulators. Conclusions: miR-210 is both a marker and mediator of preeclampsia. Its integration into diagnostic protocols and therapeutic strategies, alongside clinical validation and standardisation, may enhance early detection and personalised care in high-risk pregnancies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal Fetal Medicine)
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