Congenital heart block not associated with anti-Ro/La antibodies: comparison with anti-Ro/La-positive cases.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study anti-Ro/La-negative congenital heart block (CHB).

METHODS:

Forty-five fetuses with CHB were evaluated by analysis of anti-Ro/La antibodies using sensitive laboratory methods.

RESULTS:

There were 9 cases of anti-Ro/La-negative CHB; 3 died (33.3%). Only 3 (33.3%) were complete in utero and 5 (55.5%) were unstable. No specific etiology was diagnosed. Six infants (66.6%) were given pacemakers. There were 36 cases of anti-Ro/La-positive CHB. All except 2 infants (94.4%) had complete atrioventricular block in utero. Ten died (27.8%), one (2.7%) developed severe dilated cardiomyopathy, and 26 (72.2%) were given pacemakers.

CONCLUSION:

Nine of the 45 consecutive CHB cases (20%) were anti-Ro/La-negative with no known cause. They were less stable and complete than the anti-Ro/La positive cases.

• Authors: Antonio Brucato, Chiara Grava, Maria Bortolati, Keigo Ikeda, Ornella Milanesi, Rolando Cimaz, Veronique Ramoni, Gabriele Vignati, Stefano Martinelli, Youcef Sadou, Adele Borghi, Angela Tincani, Edward K L Chan, Amelia Ruffatti
• Journal: The Journal of rheumatology (J Rheumatol) Vol. 36 Issue 8 Pg. 1744-8 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 0315-162X [Print] Canada
• PMID: 19567621 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Antinuclear
• Autoantigens
• Ribonucleoproteins
• SS-A antibodies
• SS-A antigen
• SS-B antibodies

Topics

• Antibodies, Antinuclear (blood)
• Atrioventricular Block (congenital, immunology, mortality)
• Autoantigens (immunology)
• Bradycardia (congenital, immunology, mortality)
• Cardiomyopathy, Dilated (immunology, mortality)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Morbidity
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (immunology)
• Prenatal Diagnosis
• Ribonucleoproteins (immunology)
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• SS-B Antigen