Prospective echocardiograpic evaluation of atrioventricular conduction in fetuses with maternal Sjogren's antibodies

Objective: Fetal complete atrioventricular block (AVB) occurs in 2-5% of Sjogren's antibodies (SSA/SSB)-positive pregnancies with substantial morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the incidence of 1degrees and 2degrees AVB by measuring Doppler-derived mechanical (PR)-P-. intervals. Study design: We compared mechanical PR intervals of fetuses of SSA/SSB positive mothers referred to a single cardiology center between 1997 and 2003 with control fetuses and fetuses with 1degrees or 2degrees AVB confirmed by magnetocardiography or postnatal electrocardiogram. Results: One hundred thirty-nine fetal echocardiograms performed on 59 SSA/SSB-positive pregnant women at 24.3 +/- 5.0 weeks gestation were compared with 150 controls. Mechanical PR intervals of the study group (120.5 +/- 9.8 milliseconds) and controls (120.6 +/- 8.7 milliseconds) were the same but differed significantly from fetuses with 1degrees and 2degrees AVB (191.5 +/- 29.6 msec). Conclusion: The incidence of 1degrees and degrees 2 fetal AVB in SSA/SSB-positive pregnancies is low and can be identified by abnormal mechanical PR interval. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.