Prospective echocardiographic evaluation of atrioventricular conduction in fetuses with maternal Sjögren's antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
Fetal complete atrioventricular block (AVB) occurs in 2-5% of Sjögren's antibodies (SSA/SSB)-positive pregnancies with substantial morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the incidence of 1 degrees and 2 degrees AVB by measuring Doppler-derived mechanical PR intervals.


METHODS
We compared mechanical PR intervals of fetuses of SSA/SSB positive mothers referred to a single cardiology center between 1997 and 2003 with control fetuses and fetuses with 1 degrees or 2 degrees AVB confirmed by magnetocardiography or postnatal electrocardiogram.


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-nine fetal echocardiograms performed on 59 SSA/SSB-positive pregnant women at 24.3 +/- 5.0 weeks gestation were compared with 150 controls. Mechanical PR intervals of the study group (120.5 +/- 9.8 milliseconds) and controls (120.6 +/- 8.7 milliseconds) were the same but differed significantly from fetuses with 1 degrees and 2 degrees AVB (191.5 +/- 29.6 msec).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of 1 degrees and degrees 2 fetal AVB in SSA/SSB-positive pregnancies is low and can be identified by abnormal mechanical PR interval.
The Heart Institute for Children, Hope Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill 60453, USA.
Andrew H
AH
Van Bergen
Bettina F
BF
Cuneo
Nancy
N
Davis
D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006327:Heart Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D000906:Antibodies