title: Epidemiology, etiology, detection, and treatment of autoantibody-associated congenital heart block in neonatal lupus.
abstract: Neonatal lupus syndrome is a model of passively acquired autoimmunity in which the pregnant woman's serum contains specific antibodies to 52 or 60 kd SSA/Ro and/or 48 kd SSB/La, which cross the placenta and are associated with the development of congenital heart block in the fetus and/or a transient rash or various liver and blood cell abnormalities in the newborn. To date, congenital heart block is a permanent condition that entails significant morbidity and mortality, with nearly all affected infants requiring pacemakers and with an 80% cumulative probability of survival at 3 years of age. An intensive search is on for the specific etiopathophysiology and for new clinical tools to approach and treat this disease.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, 560 First Avenue, TCH-407, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rupel
authors.forename: Jill P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Buyon
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies