Monozygotic twins discordant for congenital complete heart block.
OBJECTIVE
Isolated congenital complete heart block (CCHB) occurs in 1/20,000 live births. More than 85% of mothers giving birth to affected infants are anti-Ro antibody positive, but only approximately 1% of babies with anti-Ro-positive mothers develop CCHB. We studied 2 sets of monozygotic twins discordant for CCHB.


METHODS
Monozygosity was determined using placental examination and DNA microsatellite analysis. HLA typing was performed. Autoantibody studies were performed using counterimmunoelectrophoresis, immunoblotting, Ro 52 and Ro 60 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on Ro 60- and Ro 52-transfected HEp-2 cells.


RESULTS
Both sets of twins were monozygotic. They had similar birth weights. Twin 2 in the second set required a pacemaker at age 2 months. Both mothers were positive for anti-Ro 52 and anti-Ro 60 antibody, and neither had anti-La antibody on immunoblot. One set of twins was studied at birth. Similar titers of anti-Ro 52 and anti-Ro 60 antibody were found by IIF and ELISA.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no previous well-documented reports of monozygotic twins discordant for CCHB. These cases demonstrate that there is still discordance in the development of CCHB despite identical genetics and environmental exposure to anti-Ro antibody.
Cooley
H M
HM
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Keech
C L
CL
Melny
B J
BJ
Menahem
S
S
Morahan
G
G
Kay
T W
TW
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C035356:SS-A antibodies