title: Pregnancy outcome in 100 women with autoimmune diseases and anti-Ro/SSA antibodies: a prospective controlled study.
abstract: Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are associated with neonatal lupus but are also considered a possible cause for unexplained pregnancy loss and adverse pregnancy outcome. In a large multicentres cohort study we have prospectively followed 100 anti-Ro/SSA positive women (53 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)) during their 122 pregnancies and 107 anti-Ro/SSA negative women (58 SLE) (140 pregnancies). Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies were tested by immunoblot and counterimunoelectrophoresis. Mean gestational age at delivery (38 vs 37.9 weeks), prevalence of pregnancy loss (9.9 vs 18.6%), preterm birth (21.3 vs 13.9%), cesarean sections (49.2 vs 53.4%), premature rupture of membranes (4.9 vs 8.1%), preeclampsia (6.6 vs 8%), intrauterine growth retardation (0 vs 2.3%)and newborns small for gestational age (11.5 vs 5.8%) were similar in anti-Ro/SSA positive and negative SLE mothers; findings were similar in non-SLE women. Two cases of congenital heart block were observed out of 100 anti-Ro/SSA positive women. In conclusion, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are responsible for congenital heart block but do not affect other pregnancy outcomes, both in SLE and in non-SLE women. The general outcome of these pregnancies is now very good, ifprospectively followed by multidisciplinary teams with ample experience in this field.
authors.affiliation: abrucato@ospedale-niguarda.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brucato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doria
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frassi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castellino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faden
authors.forename: M Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pisoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solerte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muscarà
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lojacono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cavazzana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghirardello
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vescovi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tombini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cimaz
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Gambari
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tincani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C035356:SS-A antibodies