J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2017 May 22:1-22. Epub 2017 May 22.

a Department of Pediatrics , Hamamatsu University School of Medicine , Shizuoka , 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

Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2017 May 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.

Introduction. 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. Methodology. 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 Apr;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

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

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.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with new onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy. Methods: 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. Results: Of all the 263 pregnancies, 188 were diagnosed before pregnancy and 75 were newly diagnosed during pregnancy. Read More

Clin Exp Immunol 2017 Mar 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

J Autoimmun 2016 Nov 2;74:106-117. Epub 2016 Jul 2.

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address:

Nowadays, most of the young women affected by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can carry out one or more pregnancies thanks to the improvement in treatment and the consequent reduction in morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy outcome in these women has also greatly improved in the last decades. A correct timing for pregnancy (tailored on disease activity and established during a preconception counselling), together with a tight monitoring during the three trimesters and the post-partum period (to timely identify and treat possible obstetric complications or maternal disease flares), as well as the concept of multidisciplinary management, are currently milestones of the management of pregnancy in SLE patients. Read More

J Assoc Physicians India 2016 Aug;64(8):62-66

Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, MG Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) mostly affects young women of reproductive age group. SLE patients may conceive as any normal woman but complication may occur in these patients if the disease is active. Pregnancy in SLE may lead to 1. Read More

Annu Rev Med 2017 Jan 21;68:271-285. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021; email:

Reproductive issues including contraception, fertility, and pregnancy are important components of the comprehensive care of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE pregnancies are complicated due to risk for maternal disease exacerbation and potential for fetal and neonatal complications. Pre-pregnancy assessment is important to identify patients with severe disease-related damage who should avoid pregnancy, counsel patients to conceive when disease has been stable and inactive on appropriate medications, and assess relevant risk factors including renal disease, antiphospholipid antibody, and anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol India 2016 Oct 17;66(Suppl 1):112-6. Epub 2015 Dec 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, 411040 India.

Background: Autoimmune fetal congenital heart block (CHB) is the most severe manifestation of neonatal lupus, and it is seen when maternal autoimmune antibodies cross the placenta and damage the AV node of the fetus. CHB is mainly associated with maternal SLE with anti-Ro/SSA- and anti-La/SSB-positive status, and incidence of CHB increases when both the antibodies are present. This study was conducted to know the incidence of fetal CHB in patients of SLE who had ANA, anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB positivity. Read More

Ghana Med J 2016 Jun;50(2):72-7

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box KB 77 Accra, Ghana; School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana P.O. Box GP 4236, Accra.

Objective: To study maternal and fetal outcomes in Ghanaian women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Retrospective study of pregnancies in women with SLE in a single centre in Ghana.

Results: The mean age was 30. Read More

Clin Exp Immunol 2016 Dec 13;186(3):284-291. Epub 2016 Sep 13.

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

Congenital heart block (CHB) is a potentially lethal condition characterized by a third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB). Despite anti-Ro52 antibodies being detected in nearly 90% of mothers of affected children, CHB occurs in only 1-2% of anti-Ro/Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA) autoantibody-positive pregnancies. Maternal antibodies have been suggested to bind molecules crucial to fetal cardiac function; however, it remains unknown whether a single antibody profile associates with CHB or whether several specificities and cross-reactive targets exist. Read More

Lupus 2017 May 11;26(6):661-663. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

1 Department of Hematology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) affects 1%-2% pregnant females with autoimmunity. An infant presented with steroid refractory hemolytic anemia as a manifestation of NLE. A trial of withholding breastfeeding had a transient response, but infant was eventually put on cyclosporin therapy to control the hemolysis. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2016 Sep 2;39(9):935-43. Epub 2016 Aug 2.

Congenital and Structural Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Background: Children from mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus are frequently born with congenital heart block. This study aimed at evaluating long-term outcome because long-term data are scarce.

Methods: In the database of pediatric and congenital heart disease (University Hospitals Leuven), 19 children from systemic lupus erythematosus mothers and who were born with or developed atrioventricular block were identified. Read More

Oncology (Williston Park) 2016 Jun;30(6):584-7

Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2016 Aug 13;220(4):179-82. Epub 2016 Jun 13.

Departement of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.

We report a case of pathological foetal Doppler velocity, specifically the absence of end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery (AEDV/REDV), suspected diabetic pregnancy and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, at 32 weeks of gestation. The foetal heart rate tracings were evaluated using a computerised cardiotocogram (Oxford Sonicaid system 8002 Chichester, England) 1 for 20-30 min parallel to the routine cardiotocogram. The ultrasound control at 33 weeks of gestation showed oligohydramnion, foetal centralisation and reduced interval foetal growth. Read More

J Med Assoc Thai 2015 Nov;98 Suppl 10:S147-9

Neonatal lupus erythematous (NLE) is a rare autoimmune disease caused by placental transfer of maternal anti-SSA/Ro or anti-SSB/La antibodies. It usually presents with transient cutaneous lesions, congenital heart block and other systemic symptoms. The authors report a case of neonatal lupus erythematosus who presented with targetoid-like lesions on both feet. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2016 May-Aug;9(2):201-2

Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2016 Oct 26;143(10):590-600. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Department of internal medicine, medical center, reference center for rare systemic and autoimmune diseases, hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, université René-Descartes, 27, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris cedex 14, France. Electronic address:

A causal link has long been described between estrogen and systemic lupus erythematosus activity. Contraceptive and pregnancy management is now common for lupus patients, but pregnancy continues to be associated with higher maternal and fetal mortality/morbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients than among the general population. Potential complications include lupus flares, obstetric complications (fetal loss, in utero growth retardation, premature birth) and neonatal lupus syndrome. Read More

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2016 Jun;34(2):174-8

Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Background: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is not a common disease. The death rate of complete congenital heart block (CCHB), which is the most severe clinical manifestation, is as high as 20% to 30%, so early recognition of infants at risk is important.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical features and long-term prognosis of NLE. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2016 Mar-Apr;33(2):200-8

As'ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center, Al-Sabah Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Background/objectives: The manifestations of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and their relevance to systemic disease are well characterized in adults, but data are limited in children. The objective of the current study was to examine the spectrum of CLE and its relationship to systemic disease in children from a tertiary care pediatric dermatology clinic.

Materials And Methods: An analysis of 26 children with CLE registered consecutively over 14 years was performed. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2016 Jun 2:1-3. Epub 2016 Jun 2.

b Department of Pediatrics , Akita University Graduate School of Medicine , Akita , Japan , and.

This report describes the case of a very low-birth-weight male infant with neonatal lupus erythematosus. His mother had Sjögren's syndrome, and her previous child had suffered a complete heart block. Accordingly, maternal steroid (betamethasone) therapy was administered to prevent a congenital heart block for 15 weeks (from 13 to 27 weeks' gestation). Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2016 Jun 1;75(6):1161-5. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

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

Objectives: Extension of disease beyond the atrioventricular (AV) node is associated with increased mortality in cardiac neonatal lupus (NL). Treatment of isolated heart block with fluorinated steroids to prevent disease progression has been considered but published data are limited and discordant regarding efficacy. This study evaluated whether fluorinated steroids given to manage isolated advanced block prevented development of disease beyond the AV node and conferred a survival benefit. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2016 Jan 7;42. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Department of Surgery, Dermatology Unit, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Background: Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon autoimmune disease characterized by cutaneous, hepatic, hematological, neurological and cardiac involvement.

Case Presentation: Here we report four cases of cutaneous NLE which were referred to our department in the last 10 years and update literature. The newborns presented with different skin, clinical and laboratory features. Read More

Pediatr Int 2015 Dec;57(6):1211-4

Department of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

We studied the cytokine profile of two siblings with neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) born to a mother positive for serum anti-Ro and -La antibodies, who did not receive any medication during the two pregnancies. The first sibling was found to have complete atrioventricular block in utero and became severely ill after birth. He fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis on day 2. Read More

Immunol Rev 2016 Jan;269(1):76-84

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

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), first identified as pattern recognition receptors, are now recognized to serve as a key interface between innate and adaptive immunity. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by both continuous and cyclic stimulation of the innate and adaptive immune system by endogenous nucleic acids released from apoptotic or necrotic cells. TLR7 and TLR9 function as innate sensors of viral infection as their ligands are ssRNA and dsDNA, respectively. Read More

Med Clin (Barc) 2016 Feb 28;146(4):e21-2. Epub 2015 Oct 28.

Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España.

Iran Red Crescent Med J 2015 Sep 1;17(9):e16200. Epub 2015 Sep 1.

Department of Pediatrics, Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Izmir, Turkey.

Introduction: Neonatal lupus syndrome (NLS) is a passively acquired autoimmune condition due to the transplacental passage of maternal anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and congenital complete heart block (CHB) is its most serious manifestation. Skin and hepatic involvement may occur in later infancy.

Case Presentation: A term infant with fetal bradycardia, detected at the 23rd gestational age, was diagnosed with CHB due to NLS and was successfully treated with a permanent epicardial pacemaker. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2016 Jul 20;26(4):569-75. Epub 2015 Nov 20.

l Department of Maternal Medicine , National Center for Child Health and Development , Tokyo , Japan , and.

Objective: To determine the maternal predictive factors for fetal congenital heart block (CHB) in pregnancy in mothers positive for anti-SS-A antibodies.

Methods: The Research Team for Surveillance of Autoantibody-Exposed Fetuses and Treatment of Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus, the Research Program of the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, performed a national survey on pregnancy of mothers positive for anti-SS-A antibodies. We analyzed 635 pregnant mothers who tested positive for anti-SS-A antibodies before conception but had no previous history of fetal CHB. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2015 Oct 26;34(10):1721-8. Epub 2015 Aug 26.

Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, No. 41 Damucang Hutong, Beijing, China.

The aims of our study are to observe the pregnancy outcome of anti-Sjögren's syndrome-related antigen A (SSA)/Ro-positive women and to predict the risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcome and neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE). Clinical data of 126 anti-SSA/Ro-positive patients with 140 pregnancies were evaluated retrospectively, and the newborns were followed up as a cohort in 3 months. χ (2) test or logistic regression was used to predict the risk factors of lupus flares during pregnancy, fetal loss, and NLE. Read More

J Infus Nurs 2015 Sep-Oct;38(5):360-8

Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Taraborelli); University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Taraborelli); University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Dr Taraborelli); Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Diseases, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York (Drs Erkan and Taraborelli); Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York (Dr Erkan). Mara Taraborelli, MD, is a rheumatology fellow at the Spedali Civili di Brescia and the University of Brescia in Italy. She is also affiliated with the University of Pavia in Italy and the Hosptial for Special Surgery in New York City. Doruk Erkan, MD, MPH, is an associate physician-scientist at the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Diseases and an associate attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he is also an associate professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

The awareness of pregnancy-related physiologic changes and complications is critical for the appropriate assessment and management of pregnant patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. The overlapping features of physiologic and pathological changes, selected autoantibodies, and the use of potentially teratogenic medications can complicate their management during pregnancy. While pregnancy in lupus patients presents an additional risk to an already complex situation, in patients with no disease activity, the risk of a future pregnancy-related complication is relatively low. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2015 Aug;66(8):940-2

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany.

J Am Coll Cardiol 2015 Aug;66(8):930-9

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.

Background: Cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (cardiac NL) include congenital heart block and cardiomyopathy. Several candidate biomarkers were evaluated in cases at risk for cardiac NL on the basis of potential roles in inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction: C-reactive protein (CRP); NT-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); troponin I; matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2; urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA); urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR); plasminogen; and vitamin D.

Objectives: Identification of maternal and fetal biomarkers associated with development and morbidity of cardiac NL should provide clues to pathogenesis with translational implications for management. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2015 Dec 15;14(12):1154-60. Epub 2015 Aug 15.

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

Background: Cardiac neonatal lupus syndrome is due to anti-SSA or SSB antibodies and mainly includes congenital heart block (CHB) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Its optimal management is still debated. We report a large series of autoimmune high degree CHB. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2015 Aug 13. Epub 2015 Aug 13.

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

The authors reported histiocytoid neutrophilic dermatitis in neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE). One-month-old male infant presented with annular erythematous plaques at the face and trunk. Serologic studies revealed positive anti-ribonuclear protein antibodies (RNP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Read More

Med Clin (Barc) 2016 Feb 1;146(4):188. Epub 2015 Aug 1.

Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Regional Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2016 Jun;50(3):367-76

Division of Rheumatology, Istituto G. Pini, Piazza C. Ferrari, 1, 20122, Milan, Italy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic relapsing-remitting autoimmune disease affecting several organs. Although the management of lupus patients has improved in the last years, several aspects still remain challenging. More sensitive and specific biomarkers for an early diagnosis as well as for monitoring disease activity and tissue damage are needed. Read More

Pediatrics 2015 Aug 20;136(2):e535-8. Epub 2015 Jul 20.

University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare autoimmune disorder associated with transplacental migration of maternal autoantibodies against SS-A (Ro) or SS-B (La) antigens that results in cardiac, hepatic, cutaneous, and hematologic manifestations. Although NLE-associated neutropenia is considered transient and benign, neutropenia caused by severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) is life-threatening. Diagnosing a complicated picture of neonatal neutropenia can be challenging because there are many overlapping features between the acquired and inherited etiologies. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2015 Sep 14;18(7):761-7. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.

Aim: To analyze the clinical features, outcomes and prognosis of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) in China.

Method: We reviewed 12 NLE cases at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and compared the data with 111 cases reported in China between 1990 and 2014. The Chinese medical journal search engines used in this study were Wanfang. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2015 Dec 24;34(12):2011-9. Epub 2015 Jun 24.

Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, HUC-UCV, Caracas, 1020, DC, Venezuela.

Rheumatological conditions can sometimes present as emergencies. These can occur due to the disease process or infection; contrary to what many people think, rheumatologic emergencies like a pain, rheumatic crisis, or attack gout do not compromise the patient's life. This article mentioned only true emergencies: catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (cAPS), kidney-lung syndrome, central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis, anti-Ro syndrome (neonatal lupus), and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Read More

J Immunol Res 2015 18;2015:241547. Epub 2015 May 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V. Babes" Timisoara, Emergency County Clinical Hospital Timisoara, Romania.

Pregnancy is a physiological condition that requires immune tolerance to the product of conception. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease with well-represented immune mechanisms that disturb immune tolerance. The association of pregnancy with systemic lupus erythematosus creates a particular immune environment in which the immune tolerance specific of pregnancy is required to coexist with alterations of the immune system caused by SLE. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2015 19;44(5):377-84. Epub 2015 Jun 19.

a Departments of Rheumatology , Aarhus University Hospital , Aarhus , Denmark.

Objectives: To assess the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on pregnancy outcome in a cohort of incident pregnant lupus patients referred to a Danish university hospital during 1990-2010.

Method: All pregnant lupus patients were referred to the university hospital from a stable referral area with approximately 1.4 million inhabitants. Read More

Iran J Pediatr 2014 Aug 16;24(4):445-8. Epub 2014 May 16.

Department of Ophthalmology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a transient autoimmune disease of developing fetus and neonate in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this report we introduce an infant with NLE whose mother had rheumatoid arthritis.

Case Presentation: Our case was a 40 day old male infant with discoid-like and annular skin lesions over forehead and neck, irritability and low grade fever. Read More