title: Metabolomics application in maternal-fetal medicine.
abstract: Metabolomics in maternal-fetal medicine is still an "embryonic" science. However, there is already an increasing interest in metabolome of normal and complicated pregnancies, and neonatal outcomes. Tissues used for metabolomics interrogations of pregnant women, fetuses and newborns are amniotic fluid, blood, plasma, cord blood, placenta, urine, and vaginal secretions. All published papers highlight the strong correlation between biomarkers found in these tissues and fetal malformations, preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, neonatal asphyxia, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The aim of this review is to summarize and comment on original data available in relevant published works in order to emphasize the clinical potential of metabolomics in obstetrics in the immediate future.
authors.affiliation: NICU, Puericulture Institute and Neonatal Section, AOU and University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanos
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atzori
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makarenko
authors.forename: Gian Benedetto
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Melis
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrazzi
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations; D055432:Metabolomics; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology