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Published on: May 5, 2018
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital complete heart block
Patrícia Costa1, Ana Carriço, Carla Ramalho
1Serviço de Cardiologia Pediátrica, Centro de Diagnóstico Pré-natal, Hospital de São João, Porto, Portugal. patriciacmc@zmail.pt
Insights
Congenital complete heart block (CHB), a rare heart defect, affects 1 in 15,000 births. This case highlights CHB linked to maternal lupus, a common association with autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Congenital complete heart block (CHB) is a rare cardiac conduction defect.
- CHB incidence ranges from 1:15,000 to 1:22,000 live births.
- Often associated with structural heart defects or maternal autoimmune conditions.
Observation:
- This study details a case of CHB in an infant.
- The infant's mother had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- Previous cases and clinical experience with CHB were also reviewed.
Findings:
- A strong association between CHB and maternal SLE was observed.
- Maternal autoimmune disease is a significant risk factor for CHB.
- Review of prior cases confirms this association.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and management of CHB are crucial.
- Understanding the link with maternal autoimmune diseases can improve risk assessment.
- Further research into the pathogenesis of CHB in relation to maternal autoimmunity is warranted.
Abstract:
Congenital complete heart block (CHB) is a conduction defect with an incidence in the general population of 1/15,000 to 1/22,000 live births. It is frequently associated with structural heart defects or maternal autoimmune disease. We describe a case of CHB associated with maternal systemic lupus erythematosus and review our previous cases and experience of CHB.
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