title: Fetal congenital complete heart block: prophylaxis with intravenous gammaglobulin and treatment with dexamethasone.
abstract: We report a case of complete fetal heart block in a 35-year-old Chinese woman known to be positive for anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies. She had fetal hydrops leading to intrauterine death in her first pregnancy Prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulin, given at 14 and 18 weeks' gestation, as well as oral dexamethasone, commenced at 24 weeks' gestation, allowed continuation of the pregnancy until 34 completed weeks of gestation. An external pacemaker was inserted in the baby on the first day of life. Two-and-a-half months later, a permanent pacemaker was inserted.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kwek
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yeo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D003907:Dexamethasone