title: Successful outcome of pregnancy after treatment of maternal anti-Ro (SSA) antibodies with immunosuppressive therapy and plasmapheresis.
abstract: In this short communication we describe a patient with anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies whose first child died of congenital complete heart block (CCHB). During her second pregnancy she was treated with prednisolone, azathioprine, and plasmapheresis, and levels of anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies fell significantly. The pregnancy evolved uneventfully and resulted in the birth of an unaffected male infant. This is the fourth reported case of a successful outcome of pregnancy after treatment with immunosuppressive drugs in a woman with a significant risk of recurrence of CCHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: van der Leij
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bink-Boelkens
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meilof
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kallenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C035356:SS-A antibodies; C035357:SS-B antibodies; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine