Neonatal Systemic lupus erythematosus
Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare disorder caused by the transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies. Only 1% of infants with positive maternal autoantibodies develop NLE. The most common clinical manifestations are cardiac, dermatologic, and hepatic. Some infants may also have hematologic abnormalities. Most mothers at the time of childbirth are healthy and without signs or symptoms of lupus erythematosus or other collagen vascular disorders. Mothers of children with NLE may later develop an atypical rather than classic picture of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other connective tissue disorder. If a mother with anti-Ro autoantibodies has 1 child with NLE, the incidence in subsequent pregnancies is approximately 25%. The incidence of congenital heart block is 15-30% in infants with NLE.
