The influence on pregnancy of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Excessive fetal morbidity and mortality have been noted in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The influence of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies on fetal outcome in SLE patients has rarely been reported, but its high association with congenital heart block or neonatal lupus syndrome is well known. In 430 pregnancies of the 154 SLE patients studied, there was an increased frequency of adverse fetal outcome compared with controls. There was no significant difference in the rates of adverse fetal outcome between anti-SSA/Ro positive and negative SLE patients, except that the incidence of intrauterine growth retardation increased in the positive patients. However, pregnant SLE patients with high titer of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies had more adverse fetal outcomes. All three infants who suffered congenital heart block/neonatal lupus syndrome were associated with maternal anti-SSA/Ro antibodies. The frequency of congenital heart block/neonatal lupus syndrome was 0.79% (3/379) in livebirths of all SLE patients and 1.17% (3/257) in live-births by anti-SSA/Ro positive SLE mothers.