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Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Stanford University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this study was to describe risks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in pregnancy and the importance of preconception counselling, medication optimization and close surveillance.

Recent Findings: Advances in care for pregnant patients with SLE have led to improved obstetric outcomes, but maternal and foetal risks continue to be elevated. Conception during periods of disease quiescence and continuation of most medications decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Objective: Assuming that autoimmune congenital heart block (CHB) is a progressive disease amenable to therapeutic modulation, we introduced a surveillance program for at risk pregnancies with the dual aim of investigating if fetal atrioventricular block (AVB) could be detected and treated before becoming complete and irreversible and to establish the incidence of AVB I-III in a large prospective cohort.

Methods: From 2000 to 2015, 212 anti-Ro52 antibody-exposed pregnancies were followed weekly between 18 and 24 weeks' gestation at our tertiary fetal cardiology centre. A 12 lead ECG was recorded within 1 week after birth. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Children's Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Objective: Maternal anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies can lead to fetal complete heart block (CHB). Current guidelines recommend weekly echocardiographic screening between 16 and 28 weeks gestation. Given the cost of screening and the rarity of conduction abnormalities in fetuses of mothers with low anti-Ro levels (<50 U/mL), we sought to identify a strategy that optimizes resource utilization. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2019 Mar 26;46(3):216-220. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Neutrophilic figurate erythema of infancy (NFEI) is a rare variant of annular erythema of infancy. It is characterized by annular erythematous plaques, occasionally with a polycyclic configuration. The main challenge is to differentiate this rare entity from other figurate erythemas associated with serious diseases such as neonatal lupus erythematosus. Read More

Acta Reumatol Port 2018 Jul-Sep;43(3):235-236

Hospital de Santa Maria.

A 24-day-old female newborn presented with multiple annular erythematous plaques with a targetoid shape, on the forehead, neck and upper trunk, that had begun ten days earlier. She had been diagnosed with citrullinemia type 1 in the first week of life and arginine supplementation was initiated. Her personal and family history was otherwise unremarkable. Read More

Acta Reumatol Port 2018 Jul-Sep;43(3):230-234

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: Pulmonary involvement is relatively frequent in adult and juvenile patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), but its occurrence in newborns with Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus (NLE) is exceedingly rare.

Case Report: A mother with SLE and positive anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La delivered a preterm newborn with third-degree heart block and positive anti-SSA/Ro confirmed postnatally. A temporary pacemaker was placed at D3 and a definitive pacemaker only at D15 due to sepsis with concurrent mild respiratory failure. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(45):e13185

Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

Rationale: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an infrequent disease caused by transplacental maternal autoantibodies. The most common effects of NLE include cutaneous involvement and congenital heart block (CHB), although it might involve multiple organs, such as the liver, lungs, blood, and nervous or digestive systems. Izmirly PM1 and Tonello et al recently reported cutaneous manifestations of neonatal lupus and risk of subsequent CHB. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2018 Dec 8;77(12):1742-1749. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Division of Rheumatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.

Objective: Cutaneous neonatal lupus (cNL) occurs in possibly 5%-16% of anti-Ro±anti-La antibody-exposed infants. Data suggest in utero exposure to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may prevent cardiac NL. The aim was to assess whether in utero exposure to HCQ decreases the risk of cNL and/or delays onset. Read More

Lupus 2018 12 3;27(14):2298-2299. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

JAAD Case Rep 2018 Sep 14;4(8):780-783. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

National Health Laboratory Services, Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2018 07;57(suppl_5):v9-v17

Division of Rheumatology, New York University School of Medicine, NY, USA.

Objective: To survey an international sample of providers to determine their current practices for the prevention, screening, and treatment of congenital heart block (CHB) due to maternal Ro/SSA antibodies.

Methods: A survey was designed by the organizing committee of the 9th International Conference of Reproduction, Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases. It was sent to attendants of the conference and authors of recent publications or abstracts at ACR 2012, 2013 or 2014 on rheumatic diseases and pregnancy. Read More

Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2018 Apr 27;40(4):209-224. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Objective:  To review the existing recommendations on the prenatal care of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), based on currently available scientific evidence.

Methods:  An integrative review was performed by two independent researchers, based on the literature available in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases, using the medical subject headings (MeSH) terms "systemic lupus erythematosus" AND "high-risk pregnancy" OR "prenatal care." Studies published in English between 2007 and 2017 were included; experimental studies and case reports were excluded. Read More

Cureus 2018 Feb 21;10(2):e2212. Epub 2018 Feb 21.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital.

Cutaneous neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare condition caused by the passive transfer of autoantibodies from mother to fetus. The disease most commonly presents itself with multiple erythematosus annular lesions or arcuate macules. In 10% of the cases, a cardiac anomaly can coexist. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2018 Dec 6;85(6):663-668. Epub 2018 Apr 6.

Division of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, 33604 Pessac, France. Electronic address:

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects women of childbearing age. While the impact of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on SLE activity and neonatal lupus occurrence has been evaluated in several studies, its role on prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of HCQ exposure on prematurity and IUGR during pregnancy in women with SLE. Read More

J Clin Lab Anal 2018 Mar 26:e22436. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Background: The incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has increased in recent years, and many studies have sought to further improve the general understanding of this condition. Previous studies have demonstrated that some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus also affect susceptibility to DCM, suggesting that immune-related diseases may share similar genetic susceptibility. Recent large-scale and genome-wide association studies have identified NCR3, NOTCH4, CYP1A2, ITGA1, OPRM1, ST8SIA2, and LINC00704 as genetic risk factors associated with cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus. Read More

Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2018 Jan 2;6(1):74-75. Epub 2018 Jan 2.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical Institute of Ministry of Interior (MVR-Sofia), General Skobelev 79, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria.

Background: Cutis marmorata telangiectatic congenital or Van Lohuizen syndrome is a rare vascular disorder that may be associated with other congenital malformations. Around 300 cases have been reported so far.

Case Report: We present a 4-year-old girl with Van Lohuizen syndrome of the leg, but without any other malformations. Read More

Oman Med J 2018 Jan;33(1):15-21

Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects women primarily of childbearing age. The objective of this study was to determine the neonatal and maternal outcomes of pregnancies in SLE patients compared to pregnancies in healthy controls.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care hospital in Oman between January 2007 and December 2013. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Feb 7;2018. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal.

BMJ 2018 01 25;360:k8. Epub 2018 Jan 25.

KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Feb 14;44(2):234-240. Epub 2017 Dec 14.

Department of Rheumatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the clinical characteristics of new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all pregnancies in patients with SLE managed at The People's Hospital of Peking University from 2008 to 2015. In total, 97 pregnancies were identified and studied, 22 of which were first diagnosed with SLE during pregnancy or puerperium. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2017 06 11;31(3):397-414. Epub 2017 Oct 11.

Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, SJK-University Hospital Essen, Germany. Electronic address:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a high prevalence in females of childbearing age. Pregnancy in SLE nowadays has favorable outcomes for the majority of women. However, flares of disease activity, preeclampsia, fetal loss, and preterm birth are well-known risks in such pregnancies. Read More

Acta Reumatol Port 2017 Oct-Dec;42(4):318-323

Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto.

Neonatal lupus (NL) is a very rare condition with an estimated incidence of 1 in 20.000 pregnancies. It is caused by the transplacental passage of autoantibodies anti-Ro/SSA, antiSa/SSB antibodies and/or anti-U1 RNP antibodies into the fetal circulation. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2017 Dec;53(3):469-476

Pediatric intermediate care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an uncommon syndrome, which is caused by transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies to Sjögren's syndrome A or B autoantigens. The clinical presentation includes distinctive cutaneous lesions resembling those seen in systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatobiliary disease, and cytopenias, which disappear with the clearance of maternal autoantibodies. The most severe presentation is a total atrioventricular heart block, which begins during the second trimester of gestation and is irreversible. Read More

Pediatr Rev 2017 Sep;38(9):e35-e37

Department of Pediatrics, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ.

Int J Cardiol 2017 Dec 7;248:263-269. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin, Centre de référence maladies auto-immunes et systémiques rares, Paris, France. Electronic address:

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a well-known complication of cardiac neonatal lupus, is associated with high mortality rate. Its risk factors remain unclear.

Methods: We analyzed occurrence of postnatal DCM among children with high-degree congenital heart block (CHB) and mothers with anti-SSA and/or anti-SSB antibodies. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2017 Sep 12;16(9):980-983. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.

While the relationship between maternal connective tissue diseases and neonatal rashes was described in the 1960s and congenital heart block in the 1970s, the "culprit" antibody reactivity to the SSA/Ro-SSB/La ribonucleoprotein complex was not identified until the 1980s. However, studies have shown that approximately 10-15% of cases of congenital heart block are not exposed to anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La. Whether those cases represent a different disease entity or whether another antibody is associated has yet to be determined. Read More

Lupus 2018 Jan 18;27(1):154-157. Epub 2017 May 18.

1 Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital/University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Neonatal lupus (NL) is an acquired autoimmune disease of the newborn, caused by transplacental passage of the maternal autoantibodies anti SS-A/Ro and anti SS-B/La. When the clinical picture starts directly at birth, it is known as congenital lupus (CL). The clinical manifestations are variable. Read More

Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi 2017 ;40(2):124-130

National Center of Child health and Development, Division of Maternal Medicine, Department of Perinatology.

Neonatal lupus (NL), a passively-acquired autoimmune disease associated with maternal anti-SSA antibody, presents both cardiac manifestations such as cardiac NL and non-cardiac manifestations including rashes, cytopenia, and hepatic abnormalities. Cardiac NL, occurring in 1-2% of anti-SS-A antibody-positive mothers, is a life-threatening complication with a mortality rate of 20% and a pacemaker implantation rate of 70%. In contrast, cutaneous NL, which is more common than cardiac NL, usually resolves in six months. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2017 09;56(9):1552-1559

Department of Rheumatology.

Objective: Recent studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to HCQ reduces the risk of cardiac neonatal lupus. The aim of this study is to assess if maternal intake of antimalarials (AMs) throughout pregnancy lowered the risk of cardiac and non-cardiac neonatal lupus.

Methods: Consecutive children seen between 1 January 1984 to 1 October 2013 born to women with a CTD and positive anti-Ro and/or anti-La antibodies were eligible for this single-centre retrospective cohort study. Read More

J Pak Med Assoc 2017 Jun;67(6):939-941

Department of Immunology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease resulting from the trans-placental passage of maternal anti-SSA/Ro, anti-SSB/La, and less frequently anti-RNP antibodies to the foetus. At the time of diagnosis 50% of mothers are asymptomatic. Neonatal manifestations of this multisystem disease may include congenital heart block, cutaneous lesions and haematological abnormalities. Read More

JAMA 2017 May;317(20):2125-2126

Department of Dermatology, Chitose City Hospital, Chitose, Japan.

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 Aug 8;31(15):2079-2085. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

a Department of Pediatrics , Hamamatsu University School of Medicine , Hamamatsu , Japan.

A pregnancy complicated with rheumatologic diseases can have various influences on the fetus and/or neonate. Maternal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may cause preterm and/or small for gestational age (SGA) delivery and neonatal lupus (NL). Some neonates with NL have congenital heart block (CHB) with increased morbidity and mortality, even requiring pacemakers. Read More

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2017 Sep;29(5):467-472

New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Purpose Of Review: To provide new insights into pathogenesis, prevention and management of cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (cardiac neonatal lupus) and issues pertinent to all anti-SSA/Ro positive individuals of childbearing age.

Recent Findings: Antibody specificity with high risk for cardiac neonatal lupus remains elusive, but high titers of Ro60, Ro52 or Ro52p200 antibodies appear to be required. Varying antibody specificities to the p200 region of Ro52 can induce first-degree block in a rodent model. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Aug 13;76(8):1476-1480. Epub 2017 May 13.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Objectives: Autoimmune congenital heart block (CHB) is associated with placental transcytosis of maternal autoantibodies directed against Ro/SS-A and La/SS-B. However, only about 2% of children born to mothers with the respective antibodies are affected, indicating that further risk factors exist, which are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether a maternal type I interferon (IFN) signature represents a risk factor for the development of CHB. Read More

Cardiol Young 2017 Sep 2;27(7):1419-1422. Epub 2017 May 2.

1Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Department,Gregorio Marañón Hospital,Madrid,Spain.

Neonatal cardiac lupus is a rare, passively acquired autoimmune disease. We report a case of in utero myocarditis, confirmed postnatally, with papillary muscle rupture and severe tricuspid regurgitation after birth in the absence of conduction disturbances. Tricuspid repair was successfully performed with polytetrafluoroethylene neochordae. Read More

Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2017 05 14;43(2):215-226. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Suite 7500, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a strong female predilection. Pregnancy remains a commonly encountered but high-risk situation in this setting. Both maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity are still significantly increased despite improvements in outcomes. Read More

Case Rep Rheumatol 2017 13;2017:8247591. Epub 2017 Mar 13.

Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an acquired disease of the newborn caused by transplacental transfer of maternal anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, and infrequently anti-U1 RNP antibodies. This is a case report of a male infant delivered via Caesarean section at 36-week gestation following detection of fetal bradycardia during routine antenatal clinic visit. The mother was seropositive for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-Ro/SSA and had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Read More

Open Access Rheumatol 2017 10;9:37-53. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

Division of Women's Health, Women's Health Academic Centre, King's College London and King's Health Partners, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem autoimmune disease predominantly affecting women, particularly those of childbearing age. SLE provides challenges in the prepregnancy, antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods for these women, and for the medical, obstetric, and midwifery teams who provide their care. As with many medical conditions in pregnancy, the best maternal and fetal-neonatal outcomes are obtained with a planned pregnancy and a cohesive multidisciplinary approach. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2017 Apr 14;16(4):427-432. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

Neonatal Lupus Syndrome (NLS) is a distinct clinical entity caused by transplacental passage of maternal anti-SSA/Ro antibodies (Ab). Mothers may have systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, or other connective tissue disease, or may be completely healthy at the time of giving birth. NLS includes several clinical manifestations: complete congenital heart block (CCHB) and cutaneous lupus are the most common, while hepatobiliary disease, hematological manifestations and central nervous system involvement may occur. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Feb 8;2017. Epub 2017 Feb 8.

Imperial College London, London, UK.

We report a case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a young woman who became pregnant amid a severe flare. She continued to have active disease in the face of aggressive treatments complicated by several side effects of immunosuppressive drugs including recurrent sepsis and gestational diabetes. Her fetus was at risk for congenital heart block during the second and third trimesters. Read More

Immunol Res 2017 04;65(2):487-494

Obstetric and Gynecology Department, High Risk Pregnancy Unit, Autoimmune diseases and pregnancy clinic, University Hospital La Paz, Paseo de la Castella 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.

Anti-Ro/SS-A is one specific type of antinuclear antibodies. They are in the majority of cases associated with primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) but also in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in healthy people. During pregnancy, they are mainly associated to congenital heart block (CHB) and neonatal lupus (NL). Read More

J Autoimmun 2017 May 22;79:99-104. Epub 2017 Jan 22.

Dept. Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.

The detection of cardiac conduction defects in an 18-24 week old foetus in the absence of structural abnormalities predicts with near certainty the presence of autoantibodies against 60kD and 52kD SSA/Ro in the mother regardless of her health status. Previous studies have emphasized these autoantibodies as key mediators of tissue injury. The aim of this study was to focus on the anti-Ro52 response to determine whether these autoantibodies originate from progenitors that are inherently self-reactive or from B-cells that acquire self-reactivity during an immune response. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2017 Jan-Feb;55(1):128-132

Departamento de Cardiología Pediátrica, Hospital General Regional 36, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Puebla, México.

In Down syndrome, so far, has not been reported it's association with congenital heart block, this entity is rare and occurred in only 1% of mothers who have systemic lupus erythematosus, the presence of anti-Ro antibodies cross the placenta presenting neonatal lupus with skin lesions and congenital heart block, bradycardia, which is why we describe the following case. This is a new male end product of asymptomatic young mother, but serological birth with stigmata of Down syndrome, birth presents congenital bradycardia rare manifestation abnormalities, but common in children of mothers with lupus are initiated study protocol, realizing you including laboratory tests and immunological studies cabinet as electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, which gave tone to take the mother immunological studies, being positive antiRo. We concluded that the risk of heart block in a patient with Down syndrome is the same as for the general population. Read More

J Pediatr 2017 04 12;183:199. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Department of Pediatrics National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.

Perm J 2017 9;21. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

Fellow in Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India.

Objectives: Autoimmune diseases do not impair fertility, and women with autoimmune diseases who become pregnant are likely to experience more complicated pregnancies than are women without the disease. Pregnancies complicated by these disorders have a high clinical impact on both the pregnancy and the disease. The effect of autoimmune disease on pregnancy differs according to the type of maternal disease, disease activity, severity of organ damage, antibody profile, and drug treatment. Read More

Tunis Med 2016 Jul;94(7):401-404

Background - Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an uncommon acquired autoimmune disease caused by transplacental passage of maternal antibodies SSA/Ro, SSB/La or U1 ribonucleoproteins. The most common clinical manifestations are skin rash, cardiac lesions, thrombocytopenia, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly. Complete congenital heart block is usually irreversible needing a pacemaker implantation in two-thirds of cases. Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2016 ;58(1):106-108

Marmara University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology, İstanbul, Turkey.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder mainly affecting the heart and skin. It is the most common cause of congenital heart block. In addition, hematological, hepatobiliary and neurological involvement may occur. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2016 Nov;96(41):3300-3304

Department of Rheumatology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.

To investigate the clinical characteristics and adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with new onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy. The clinical data of 263 pregnancies with SLE in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhongshan University from 2001 to 2015 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Of all the 263 pregnancies, 188 were diagnosed before pregnancy and 75 were newly diagnosed during pregnancy. Read More

Clin Exp Immunol 2017 03 5;187(3):353-368. Epub 2016 Dec 5.

National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India.

While apoptotic debris is believed to constitute the original antigenic insult in lupus (which is characterized by a time-dependent diversification of autoreactivity), whether such debris and autoantibodies specifically recognizing its constituents mediate differential effects on innate and humoral responses in lupus-prone mice is currently unknown. Apoptotic blebs (as opposed to cellular lysate) enhanced preferentially the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) from bone marrow precursors drawn from lupus-prone mice. Murine, somatically mutated, apoptotic cell-reactive immunoglobulin (Ig)G monoclonal antibodies demonstrated enhanced recognition of DCs and also displayed a prominent lupus strain-specific bias in mediating DC maturation. Read More