title: Familial IgG subclass imbalance, anti-SS-A antibodies and third-trimester foetal death.
abstract: Foetal heart block occurred in the second pregnancy of an apparently healthy 23-yr-old woman. Her mother and sister were known for 10 yr with hypergammaglobulinaemia which was due to a disproportionate polyclonal elevation of serum IgG1 and with a high titre of rheumatoid factors. No associated disease was obvious. A third-trimester foetal death had occurred with each of these patients. In the sera of these three women circulating anti-SS-A (Ro) antibodies were detected, which are known to be associated with congenital heart block. IgG subclass imbalance, consisting of a disproportionate polyclonal elevation of IgG1, has been recognised as being associated with a characteristic autoantibody pattern. Familial occurrence of this syndrome as such has hitherto not been reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Krol-van Straaten
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Haanen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Velzen-Blad
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: de Maat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000276:immunology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C035356:SS-A antibodies