Favorable outcome in a pregnancy with complete fetal heart block and severe bradycardia.
BACKGROUND
Pregnancies complicated by congenital heart block usually have a poor prognosis when there is severe fetal bradycardia.


METHODS
We present a pregnancy with fetal heart rate of 40 beats per minute. She previously delivered a child with third-degree heart block by cesarean at 28 weeks. This pregnancy was complicated by a high ribonucleoprotein antibody anti-Ro/SSA titer and fetal bradycardia. The patient was treated with steroids and beta-mimetics. The fetus continued to grow normally with reassuring biophysical profiles. After fetal lung maturity documentation at 34 weeks, she delivered by repeat cesarean a healthy 2349-g infant who required a permanent pacemaker.


CONCLUSIONS
Reassuring antepartum testing and normal growth in pregnant women with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and congenital heart block may allow expectant management until fetal maturity.
Minassian
Vatche A
VA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Jazayeri
Allahyar
A
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000628:therapy*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins