Short and long-term outcomes of children with autoimmune congenital heart block treated with a combined maternal-neonatal therapy. A comparison study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The short and long-term outcomes of children with anti-Ro/La-related congenital heart block treated with a combined maternal-neonatal therapy protocol were compared with those of controls treated with other therapies.

STUDY DESIGN:

Sixteen mothers were treated during pregnancy with a therapy consisting of daily oral fluorinated steroids, weekly plasma exchange and fortnightly intravenous immunoglobulins and their neonates with intravenous immunoglobulins (study group); 19 mothers were treated with fluorinated steroids alone or associated to intravenous immunoglobulins or plasma exchange (control group).

RESULT:

The combined-therapy children showed a significantly lower progression rate from 2nd to 3rd degree block at birth, a significant increase in heart rate at birth and a significantly lower number of pacemaker implants during post-natal follow-up with respect to those treated with the other therapies.

CONCLUSION:

The combined therapy produced better short and long term outcomes with respect to the other therapies studied.

• Authors: Amelia Ruffatti, Alessia Cerutti, Marta Tonello, Maria Favaro, Teresa Del Ross, Antonia Calligaro, Chiara Grava, Margherita Zen, Ariela Hoxha, Giovanni Di Salvo
• Journal: Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association (J Perinatol) Vol. 42 Issue 9 Pg. 1161-1168 (09 2022) ISSN: 1476-5543 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35717457 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
• Steroids, Fluorinated
• Betamethasone

Topics

• Betamethasone
• Child
• Female
• Heart Block (congenital, therapy)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (therapeutic use)
• Infant, Newborn
• Pregnancy
• Steroids, Fluorinated