Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for Fetal Care: A Review

摘要

In utero stem cell transplantation and gene therapy have the ability to cure and treat many different genetic disorders in children and adults. For some conditions, this could be applied before birth and allow for better outcomes, as well as reduce the financial burden put on families with children with genetic disorders. Prenatal diagnostic testing has become increasingly available within the last decade. The advances in prenatal diagnostic testing have now made in utero stem cell and gene therapy realistic possibilities. For example, patients with a family history of hemophilia A have prenatal diagnostic testing readily available to them. In the United States, prenatal gene therapy for hemophilia A would benefit approximately 240 families per year and could save upward of $48 billion over their lifetime.