Brucato A, Grava C, Bortolati M, Ikeda K, Milanesi O, Cimaz R, Ramoni V, Vignati G, Martinelli S, Sadou Y, Borghi A, Tincani A, Chan EKL, Ruffatti A. Congenital heart block not associated with anti-Ro/La antibodies: comparison with anti-Ro/La-positive cases.
J Rheumatol 2009;
36:1744-8. [PMID:
19567621 PMCID:
PMC2798588 DOI:
10.3899/jrheum.080737]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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.
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