Congenital heart defect indicator: SS-antibodies test
Published
March 31, 2015
•
Reviewed by
a UI Health Care Provider
Babies born to mothers with autoimmune problems and SSA antibodies are at risk for congenital complete heart block (slow heart rate).
Why is my baby at risk for a slow heart rate?
When SSA antibodies pass from the mother to the baby in the womb they can inflame the baby’s heart muscle.
- This is most common between 18 and 24 weeks, but can happen at any point during pregnancy
- Only 3 to 5% of babies born to mothers with these antibodies develop a slow heart rate
- It is not known why some babies do develop a slow heart rate and others do not
What can SSAs do to my baby's heart?
SSAs can lead to:
- Leaky heart valves
- Poor heart function, or
- Slow heart rate
The risk of having a baby with a slow heart rate due to SSA antibodies is higher if the mother has any of the following:
- Low thyroid
- SSB antibodies
- A prior child with slow heart rate (15-20% likely to happen again with future children)
- High level of SSA antibodies (>100U/ml)
Some studies show that the use of a drug called Plaquenil may protect the baby’s heart while in the mother. The reason for this is unknown.
Mothers with SSA antibodies should have the baby’s heart checked while pregnant. A test called an echocardiogram is taken when the mother is 18,20,22,24, and 32 weeks along in her pregnancy. This test is not harmful to the baby.