Objective
The recurrence rate of anti-SSA/Ro associated congenital heart block (CHB) is 17%. Reversal of 3rd degree block has never been achieved. Based on potential reduction of maternal autoantibody titers as well as fetal inflammatory responses, IVIG was evaluated as a preventative therapy for CHB.
Methods
A multicenter open-label study based on Simon’s 2-stage optimal design was initiated. Enrollment criteria included: maternal anti-SSA/Ro antibody, a previous child with CHB/rash, = 20 mg prednisone, < 12 weeks pregnant. IVIG (400mg/kg) was given every 3 weeks from 12 to 24 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was the development of 2nd or 3rd degree CHB.
Results
Twenty mothers completed the IVIG protocol before reaching the pre-determined stopping rule of three cases of advanced CHB. CHB was detected at 19, 20 and 25 weeks; none followed an abnormal PR interval. One of these mothers had two previous children with CHB. One child without CHB developed a transient rash consistent with neonatal lupus. Sixteen children had no manifestations of neonatal lupus at birth. No significant changes in maternal antibody titers to SSA/Ro, SSB/La, or Ro52 were detected over the course of therapy or at delivery. There were no safety issues.
Conclusions
IVIG at doses consistent with replacement does not prevent the recurrence of CHB or reduce maternal antibody titers. Having established safety with this protocol and feasibility of patient enrollment, subsequent preventative studies may be considered, perhaps to include higher doses of IVIG.
To compare the normal extrahepatic portion of the fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein (FIUV) with varix of the FIUX, we prospectively measured the diameter of the FIUV in 150 uncomplicated second and third trimester pregnancies and compared these results with retrospective review of nine fetuses with varix of the FIUV as an isolated prenatal sonographic finding. The diameter of the normal FIUV increases linearly from approximately 3 mm at 15 menstrual weeks to approximately 8 mm at term (R = 0.92). The nine fetuses with FIUV varix had a FIUV diameter 6 to 12 standard deviations above the mean for age. Four (44%) of the nine fetuses with FIUV varix subsequently died, including one with trisomy 21. One of the remaining fetuses developed severe hydrops 2 weeks after the initial detection of the FIUV varix. FIUV varix appears to carry an increased risk of adverse fetal outcome, including fetal demise.
A high vaginal interleukin-8 concentration, abnormal vaginal Gram stain, absent hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus, and anaerobic vaginal flora were strongly associated with AF infection among women in preterm labor.
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