Advances in Maternal and Fetal Medicine Research: From Diagnostics to Prognosis

A special issue of Women (ISSN 2673-4184).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 349

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: obstetrics; high-risk pregnancy; perinatology; prenatal diagnosis; ultrasound
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have seen extraordinary advances in maternal–fetal care, with new discoveries in prediction, prevention, and therapy. Serious obstetric conditions can now be predicted early and prevented with medication, reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Similarly, serious fetal anomalies can now be diagnosed early and intervened with in utero, improving survival and the quality of life in the neonatal period. New research in genetics and stem cells offers the prospect of early prenatal diagnosis and the treatment of rare diseases.

This Special Issue will focus on recent advances in maternal–fetal medicine, including prediction, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Diagnostics.

Prof. Dr. Edward Araujo Júnior
Guest Editor

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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. Women is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • maternal
  • fetal
  • perinatal period
  • prenatal diagnosis
  • pregnancy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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12 pages, 6126 KiB  
Case Report
Improved Myocardial Function in Autoimmune-Mediated Fetal Complete Atrioventricular Block Following Dexamethasone and Intravenous Immunoglobulin: A Case Report
by Maria Elisa Martini Albrecht, Milena Giuberti Bathomarco, Gustavo Yano Callado, Nathalie Jeanne Bravo-Valenzuela and Edward Araujo Júnior
Women 2025, 5(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/women5020020 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 196
Abstract
This case report describes a fetus diagnosed with complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) associated with positive maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies, referred to our fetal cardiology unit at 25 weeks of gestation. The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was established during the investigation [...] Read more.
This case report describes a fetus diagnosed with complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) associated with positive maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies, referred to our fetal cardiology unit at 25 weeks of gestation. The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was established during the investigation of the fetal condition. Oral dexamethasone was initiated and well tolerated, with no adverse effects reported throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. The fetal heart rate (HR) remained above 50 bpm, and, therefore, no beta-sympathomimetic agents were administered. Due to progressive reduction in myocardial contractility and the appearance of early signs of endocardial fibroelastosis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy was initiated. The patient was hospitalized for the infusion, which was well tolerated without complications, and a second IVIG cycle was administered four weeks later. Significant improvement in ventricular contractility and reduction in fibroelastosis were observed. As reported in the literature, no chronotropic effect was noted, and fetal HR remained stable after treatment. Weekly monitoring of cardiovascular profile score and fetal HR was maintained, with the score consistently remaining at 8 throughout gestation, supporting continued outpatient management. Delivery occurred at 36 weeks and 3 days due to spontaneous preterm labor. A male neonate weighing 3025 g was delivered with Apgar scores of 8 and 9, and an initial heart rate of 84 bpm. Neonatal electrocardiography confirmed persistent CAVB, and the newborn was monitored in the neonatal intensive care unit. At follow-up, the infant remains clinically stable and has not required permanent pacemaker implantation. Full article
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