2009/06/30 by Antonio Brucato, Chiara Grava, Maria Bortolati +11 · 1 citation
Medicine · #Viral Infections and Immunology Research #Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research #Platelet Disorders and Treatments
paper · pdf · doi:10.3899/jrheum.080737
openalex publication_date 2009/06/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/30
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.