title: Cardiac immunoglobulin deposition in congenital heart block associated with maternal anti-Ro autoantibodies.
abstract: Isolated congenital complete heart block is frequently found in offspring of mothers who have IgG anti-Ro/SSA autoantibodies. IgG deposition was reported in the heart of a baby who died from heart block and heart failure. The pattern of antibody deposition observed was the same as that reproduced in animal models for anti-Ro/SSA binding. The IgG deposition was present in, but not limited to, the conduction system. Scattered small infiltrates of mononuclear cells and a limited, patchy deposition of complement were also observed. These findings support the possibility that isolated congenital heart block may be causally related to autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coulter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C035356:SS-A antibodies