Neonatal lupus syndrome in successive pregnancies

Two female siblings, born 15 months apart, developed neonatal lupus syndrome. Both had cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) lesions resolving with telangiectasis. Their cutaneous lesions were temporally related to transplacental passage of anti-SS-A (Ro) autoantibodies from their asymptomatic mother. Infants with this transient collagen vascular syndrome may have LE skin lesions, congenital heart block, and liver or hematologic abnormalities, and are possibly at risk for developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) later in life. It is important to recognize that this syndrome may occur in successive pregnancies.