Abstract
6/2022
vol. 39
Review paper
Neonatal lupus erythematosus – prevention is better than cure
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
Adv Dermatol Allergol 2022; XXXIX (6): 1021-1026
Online publish date: 2022/12/22
Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a congenital autoimmune condition in which the transplacental passage of immunoglobulin G (IgG) directed against auto-antigens causes clinical symptoms in the foetus or neonate. Anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, and to a lesser extent, anti-U1RNP autoantibodies (aAbs) have the strongest association with NLE. However, ~ 50% of affected mothers are asymptomatic despite carrying those aAbs. The clinical picture of the disease is very diverse. Cardiac manifestations are the most severe, including congenital heart block (CHB), with a mortality rate of ~18%. Preventative therapy with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces the recurrence rate of CHB in subsequent pregnancies by ~50%.
Keywords
neonatal lupus erythematosus, congenital heart block, antinuclear antibodies, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, anti-La/SSB antibodies
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