Neonatal Lupus Is More Than a Skin Disease

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE), a transient skin disorder, occurs in infants born to mothers with and without collagen vascular disorders. NLE may also manifest as complete congenital heart block (CHB). CHB and skin disease may coexist. Using a national NLE registry, these authors analyzed data on infants with skin disease alone. They also evaluated maternal outcomes and risks in subsequent pregnancies. The registry enrolls fetal, neonate, and infant patients who have characteristic skin disease or heart block and a mother with antibodies, usually anti-Ro (SS-A), anti-La (SS-B), or anti-U1RNP. Fifty-seven infants born to 47 mothers were included in this analysis.

At diagnosis, 13 mothers had no clinical features of a collagen vascular di…