Familial IgG subclass imbalance, anti-SS-A antibodies and third-trimester foetal death.
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.
Krol-van Straaten
M J
MJ
Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Haanen
H C
HC
van Velzen-Blad
H
H
de Maat
C E
CE
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
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C035356:SS-A antibodies