Prevention of anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies-mediated congenital heart block in pregnant woman with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report

Abstract

Women with connective tissue diseases increase risks of obstetric complications during pregnancy. Especially, women who have anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La auto-antibodies increase the risk of developing fetal atrioventricular (AV) block. It is difficult to indentify fetal AV block in the early stage of the disease, which is consequently found after the establishment of complete AV block as the form of fetal arrhythmia. To have a chance to reverse this serious disorder, we should detect fetal AV block in the early stage before it progresses to complete AV block. We experienced a case of pregnant systemic lupus erythematosus woman who has antiSSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La auto-antibodies monitored by cardiac doppler sonography; We detected fetal first degree AV block and successfully treated with dexamethasone. We report systemic lupus erythematosus women who increased risks of fetal AV block with a brief review of relevant literatures.