Last Update: 08/16/2006 Printer Friendly Printer Friendly   Email This Page Email This Page  

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network

MFMU logoThe NICHD established the Maternal Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network in 1986, through its Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, to conduct perinatal studies to improve maternal and fetal outcome, particularly with respect to the continuing problem of preterm birth. The scientific partnership between the Branch, the funded units, and the data-coordinating center has become a strong force in the obstetric research community.

The MFMU Network continues to rise to the challenge of designing programs and treatments for the prevention of preterm births using evidence-based medical practices. The Network also builds upon information obtained from its own studies and collaborates with other NIH Institutes and federal agencies to bring as much expertise as possible to questions related to maternal and fetal outcomes.

Network researchers recently released findings from a groundbreaking trial that identified a therapy for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth. They studied 463 women who had a previous preterm delivery and were, therefore, considered at high risk for recurrent preterm delivery. This randomized, double-masked, clinical trial compared the effects of weekly treatment of 17 Alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) versus placebo injections on preventing preterm birth in women at high risk for preterm birth. Importantly, the trial showed that showed that 17P treatment reduced preterm birth by 34 percent in this population. Women who received weekly 17P injections starting at 16 to 20 weeks’ gestation had a significantly reduced risk of preterm delivery before 37, 35, or 32 weeks’ gestation when compared to women who received placebo injections. Further, among those who did deliver preterm, infants of women treated with 17P had significantly lower rates of severe complications. Treatment was equally effective in African American and non-African American subjects (an important consideration because the preterm birth rate is two-fold higher in African Americans) and showed benefit in preventing spontaneous and indicated preterm births. 17P is the first successful treatment demonstrated to reduce the risk of recurrent preterm delivery in a subset of high-risk women and to improve neonatal outcomes for infants born to these women (N Engl J Med 2003; 348:2379-85). Further studies are currently being planned.

In addition, the June 2003 issue (Volume 27) of Seminars in Perinatalogy was devoted exclusively to the MFMU Network, highlighting its history, trials, findings, and impact in the field.

For more information about the MFMU Network, please visit: http://www.bsc.gwu.edu/mfmu/.