Feto-maternal outcome in pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal congenital complete heart block

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of eleven pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal congenital complete heart block (CCHB) in anti-SSA/Ro antibody positive women was carried out at a tertiary hospital in India to study the perinatal outcome. The mean gestational age at the time of detection of fetal CCHB was 24.5 ± 3.1weeks. Six mothers were asymptomatic; two had Sjögren's syndrome and three had systemic lupus erythematosus. Oral dexamethasone was given to all the patients after the diagnosis was made. There was one case of intrauterine death. Seven (63.6%) neonates needed a permanent pacemaker. There was no significant difference in the perinatal outcome in asymptomatic women with fetal CCHB and in women with connective tissue disorder and fetal CCHB. To conclude, fetal CCHB is associated with high morbidity but the presence of underlying connective disorder in the mother does not worsen the prognosis of the affected neonate.

Keywords::

• Anti-SSA/Ro antibody
• congenital heart block
• connective tissue disorder

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.