Overview Neonatal lupus is a rare congenital autoimmune disorder characterized by red rash or skin eruption (cover image). It results from the autoantibodies that travel from the mother to the fetus, damaging the fetal tissue. A note-worthy complication of this disease is congenital heart block which may need a pacemaker to resolve. Other uncommon symptoms include macrocephaly, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and jaundice.
A distinct disorder Neonatal lupus, also known as congenital heart block , is not an infant form of lupus erythematosus. The assigned name is due to the resemblance of skin rash with lupus. The affected infant nor the mother has lupus erythematosus (although the mother may be at 20% risk). Signs and symptoms Fig 2: Racoon Eye Pattern Etiology Neonatal lupus occurs when specific antibodies like anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, or both…
