Outcome and Growth of Infants Fetally Exposed to Heart Block-Associated Maternal Anti-Ro52/SSA Autoantibodies

Abstract

This report documents that newborns with autoantibody-mediated second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular block are retarded in growth, with no catch-up during infancy, whereas fetuses with first-degree atrioventricular block or normal atrioventricular conduction have a normal growth soon after birth. Increased maternal age and/or parity seem to carry an increased risk for fetal heart block.