Neonatal lupus erythematosus in four successive siblings born to a mother with discoid lupus erythematosus

A young woman with inactive discoid lupus erythematosus (LE) gave birth in three successive pregnancies to four male infants who showed cutaneous, and in one case cardiac, signs of neonatal LE. The mother had Ro and La antibodies although the anti-nuclear factor (ANF) was not consistently detectable. Three of the infants received phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Maternal discoid LE may give rise to neonatal LE, and successive siblings can be affected.