title: Arrhythmogenic effects of anti-Ro/SSA antibodies on the adult heart: more than expected?
abstract: The arrhythmogenicity of anti-Ro/SSA antibodies for the foetal heart and their crucial role in the development of congenital heart block is now well established, representing a paradigmatic model of passively acquired autoimmunity. Recently, intriguing data suggest that also the adult heart may represent a possible target of anti-Ro/SSA antibody-mediated autoimmune injury. The prolongation of the QTc interval, possibly resulting from a direct inhibitory interaction between the anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and the potassium current I(Kr) in the heart seems the abnormality more frequently observed in adults with anti-Ro/SSA-positive CTD. Although the possibility that anti-Ro/SSA positivity may be considered a risk factor for arrhythmic sudden death in adults has not been demonstrated as yet, preliminary data suggest a relationship among anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, QTc prolongation, and the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias, also life threatening, in adult patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Division of Clinical Immunology, University of Siena, Italy. pietroenea@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Pietro Enea
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lazzerini
authors.forename: Pier Leopoldo
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Capecchi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acampa
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selvi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guideri
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bisogno
authors.forename: Pier Carlo
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
authors.forename: Franco Laghi
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Pasini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000276:immunology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000276:immunology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015221:Potassium Channels; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C116006:RO60 protein, human; D000099207:SS-A Antigen