Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)

Editor

Personal info

View

About

Terms

Javascript disabled

Please enable Javascript support in your browser to use this application.

Instructions on how to enable JavaScript on different browsers can be found here: http://www.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=23852.

[edit this page]

Raboisson, M.J. et al.

Fetal Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis and successful steroid therapy of Luciani-Wenckebach phenomenon and endocardial fibroelastosis related to maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies.

BACKGROUND: Complete fetal heart block (HB) and endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) are known to be associated with maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. Complete fetal HB is irreversible. OBJECTIVES: We sought to (1) assess the value of the superior vena cava/ascending aorta Doppler approach in the early detection of abnormal delay in the fetal atrioventricular (AV) time of conduction, before appearance of complete fetal HB; and (2) report the effect of prenatal steroid therapy on EFE, HB, or both. RESULTS: The clinical history, echocardiographic, and Doppler investigations of 3 fetuses and children born to mothers positive for anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies are reported. Two fetuses presented with EFE either isolated (29 weeks) or associated with AV block (25 weeks). In this last case, the superior vena cava/ascending aorta approach allowed the identification of a Luciani-Wenckebach phenomenon. In a third fetus, 2:1 AV block was noted at 23 weeks of gestation. Dexamethasone (4 mg/day) was administered to all 3 patients. Complete regression of the EFE and conduction abnormalities was documented in all cases. CONCLUSION: Early prenatal detection of abnormal delay in fetal AV time conduction is possible with the Doppler superior vena cava/ascending aorta approach. Steroid therapy can cure fetal EFE and AV conduction delays associated with maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies.[1]

References

Fetal Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis and successful steroid therapy of Luciani-Wenckebach phenomenon and endocardial fibroelastosis related to maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. Raboisson, M.J., Fouron, J.C., Sonesson, S.E., Nyman, M., Proulx, F., Gamache, S. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography. (2005) [Pubmed]

Annotations and hyperlinks in this abstract are from individual authors of WikiGenes or automatically generated by the WikiGenes Data Mining Engine. The abstract is from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.About WikiGenes Open Access Licence Privacy Policy Terms of Use apsburg

The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.