This case highlights the potential for treating antibody-mediated endocardial fibroelastosis despite congenital complete AV block and emphasizes the need for longitudinal rheumatologic surveillance in mothers with anti-SSA/Ro antibodies.
Alerts clinicians to fetal cardiac screening in lupus nephritis pregnancies; hypothesis-generating for treatment responses in associated fibroelastosis.
Transplacental transfer of maternal anti-SSA/Ro antibodies may adversely impact fetal cardiac development in the second trimester. Antibody-mediated endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) may develop with or without associated congenital block. This case reports the identification of complete atrioventricular block and EFE associated with maternal anti-SSA/Ro and subsequent diagnosis of lupus nephritis in the mother over longitudinal follow-up. The case illustrates a treatment response for EFE even in the setting of congenital complete atrioventricular block and approaches to surveillance for development of rheumatologic disease in the mother.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Lucke et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: