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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Maternal-fetal medicine--how can we practically connect the "M" to the "F"?
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqwa and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Abstract:
Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) is a multidisciplinary subspecialty dedicated to optimization of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. MFM utilizes novel technologies for diagnostics and treatments in order to optimize obstetrical care and pregnancy outcome. Although defined as maternal and fetal medicine, originally aiming to equally address fetal and/or maternal issues, in reality the main focus of MFM has been shifted from improving maternal outcome and preventing maternal short- and long-term complications to improving fetal and neonatal outcome. In this article, we address the lack of communication between the two subspecialties and propose a resolution that will bridge the discrepancies by proposing to connect the leading hypotheses in MFM and in fetal medicine to those in maternal medicine.
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