[Congenital auriculo-ventricular block and anti-Ro (SS-A)/anti-La (SS-B) antibody]

Congenital heart blocks due to immunological causes are rare. A case is reported of a fetus with auriculo-ventricular block diagnosed at 22 weeks of amenorrhoea and intrauterine death at 32 weeks. The authors discussing the case find the most likely link: an anti-RO (SS-A) and anti-LA (SS-B) immunological block and they suggest that there are minor localised lesions in the nodal tissue which gives rise to benign disturbances of cardiac rhythm and they point out ways of preventing intrauterine auriculo-ventricular block.