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

J Rheumatol. 2009 Aug;36(8):1744-8. Epub 2009 Jun 30. Congenital heart block not associated with anti-Ro/La antibodies: comparison with anti-Ro/La-positive cases. 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 EK, Ruffatti A. Source Medicina Interna, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy. albrucato@ospedaliriuniti.bergamo.it 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. PMID: 19567621 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC2798588