title: [New prospects of prevention and treatment of inherited diseases and congenital malformations in the fetus].
abstract: Advances in medical genetics combined with diagnostic technologies provides a better insight into complicated mechanisms of early human ontogenesis. Due to the availability of the methods of prenatal diagnosis, more and more frequently the phenotype of the fetus can be precisely defined. This fact stimulates the considerations on the feasibility of fetal therapy. New techniques of microsurgery combined with laparoscopy provides a new modalities for surgical correction of congenital malformations. The paper describes the rationales and the outcomes of the treatments of the fetuses affected with selected genetic diseases and congenital malformations. The methods of pharmacological and surgical treatment of the fetus are described. The perspective for in utero gene therapy in humans are discussed with an emphasis on the potential benefits and risks related to this technology. Finally, the paper presents the considerations on ethical and moral challenges, created by the advent of new therapeutic interventions in utero.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Genetyki Medycznej Katedry Pediatrii Polsko-Amerykańskiego Instytutu Pediatrii Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, 30-663 Kraków, ul. Wielicka 265.
authors.forename: Jacek J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pietrzyk
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis