title: Neonatal lupus erythematosus: a transplacentally acquired autoimmune disorder.
abstract: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare disorder characterized by congenital heart block and/or cutaneous disease and less commonly is associated with hepatic and hematological abnormalities. The majority of affected infants acquire Ro/SS-A (Ro) autoantibodies transplacentally from the maternal circulation and it is generally thought that these antibodies are pathogenic. Mothers at increased risk of having a child affected by NLE should be followed closely during pregnancy to detect the development of fetal heart block, as this is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Mothers of affected infants are at increased risk of developing a rheumatic disease if they have not already done so.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, North Carolina Memorial Hospital, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7600, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McCauliffe
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000151:congenital*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000276:immunology; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000151:congenital* / Q000276:immunology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C035356:SS-A antibodies