Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Foetal echocardiographic surveillance in anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La-positive SLE pregnancies: risk stratification of congenital heart block
Authors' conclusion
SLE pregnancies with anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La antibodies and suboptimal gestational conditions constitute a distinct high-risk subgroup.
Study context
- Population
- SLE pregnancies with positive anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La antibodies
- Participants
- 50 pregnancies
- Exposure
- Suboptimal vs optimal pre-gestational conditions
- Group 2n = 19
- Group 1n = 31reference
- Outcome
- Incidence of foetal cardiac conduction abnormalities
Methodological detailsserial foetal echocardiography with atrioventricular interval (AVI) measurement, stratified by pre-gestational conditions
- Serial foetal echocardiography with AVI measurement
- Stratified by pre-gestational conditions
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Foetal cardiac conduction abnormalities
P = 0.024
- Overall incidence
- 12% (6/50)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Course of conduction abnormalities under monitoring
- Persistent AVI prolongation treated with dexamethasone and IV immunoglobulin, progression to advanced heart block prevented
- 1
- Normalized spontaneously on short-term follow-up
- 5
Original publication
Foetal echocardiographic surveillance in anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La-positive SLE pregnancies: risk stratification of congenital heart block. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 6 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →