In utero stem cell transplantation.

Successful in utero stem cell transplantations with hematopoietic or other stem cells should represent a major step forward in the management of patients with congenital, hematological, metabolic, and immunological disorders. The possibility of performing cell transplantations with stem cells across histoincompatibility barriers without chemotherapy has great potential for both pre and postnatal transplantations. The present article includes an overview of this topic with special reference to different animal models and the experience in humans in regard to fetal stem cell transplantations. This area of research holds great promise for the future, and development of efficient intrauterine stem cell treatment may enable the relative new speciality of fetal medicine to progress from a mainly diagnostic to a therapeutic medical subject.