In Utero Therapies, the Next Frontier.

Abstract

Advancements in molecular diagnostics and the expanded understanding of pathophysiologic processes underlying a variety of genetic conditions have led to the design and implementation of many targeted therapies in the past decade. In the prenatal space, these advancements have rapidly changed the field of prenatal diagnosis and have garnered enthusiasm toward interventions aimed at correcting specific disease mechanisms in utero to prevent irreversible injury and/or leverage fetal physiology to increase the effectiveness of these treatments. Although many promising trials are underway, continued efforts to fully elucidate the intricacies of fetal immunology, the fetal blood-brain barrier and precise molecular processes during different stages of development will be paramount to continued refinement of in utero therapies. The social and ethical implications of fetal therapy are also of utmost importance, especially in an era of increasing restrictions on reproductive autonomy. This review aims to summarize current efforts toward in utero targeted fetal therapies as well as the history and ethical implications of such endeavors.