Placental abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus: in situ deposition of antinuclear antibodies.
We studied 5 placentae from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for the presence of immunopathologic changes. We found antinuclear antibodies (ANA) deposited along the villi, trophoblast and amnion producing a lupus band-like pattern. The ANA were IgG class and had C3 fixing activity. Of the T cell subsets found in the placenta, OKT8 was the predominant type in patients with SLE and controls. All the patients were ANA positive, and 1 was also positive for anti-Ro(SSA). One newborn, positive for ANA and anti-Ro(SSA), developed neonatal lupus, 1 infant with a cardiac septal defect was ANA negative, and the other infants were normal. Our study demonstrates that in pregnant women with SLE, ANA deposition occurs in the placenta in situ.
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000473:pathology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear