Anti-SSA/Ro antibodies and the heart: more than complete congenital heart block? A review of electrocardiographic and myocardial abnormalities and of treatment options

Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;7(2):69-73. doi: 10.1186/ar1690. Epub 2005 Jan 25.

Abstract

Apart from complete and incomplete congenital heart block (CHB), new cardiac manifestations related to anti-SSA/Ro antibodies have been reported in children born to mothers bearing these antibodies. These manifestations include transient fetal first-degree heart block, prolongation of corrected QT (QTc) interval, sinus bradycardia, late-onset cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis and cardiac malformations. Anti-SSA/Ro antibodies are not considered pathogenic to the adult heart, but a prolongation of the QTc interval has recently been reported in adult patients and is still a matter of debate. Treatment of CHB is not well established and needs to be assessed carefully. The risks and benefits of prenatal fluorinated steroids are discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Betamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • Bradycardia / immunology
  • Cardiomyopathies / epidemiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / etiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Electrocardiography*
  • Endocardial Fibroelastosis / etiology
  • Endocardial Fibroelastosis / immunology
  • Female
  • Fetal Heart / immunology
  • Fetal Heart / pathology
  • Fetal Heart / physiopathology
  • Heart Block / congenital
  • Heart Block / drug therapy
  • Heart Block / etiology
  • Heart Block / immunology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / etiology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / immunology
  • Heart Diseases / congenital
  • Heart Diseases / etiology*
  • Heart Diseases / immunology
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Maternally-Acquired*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Long QT Syndrome / congenital
  • Long QT Syndrome / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / congenital
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / etiology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Male
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Myocardium / immunology
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications / immunology
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • SS-A antibodies
  • Dexamethasone
  • Betamethasone