Neonatal lupus erythematous – A report of three cases

Abstract

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare acquired autoimmune disorder clinically characterized by skin lesions that resemble those of subacute or discoid lupus erythematosus and/or congenital heart bock. Skin and cardiac manifestations coexist only in 10% of the patients. It is caused by transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies, usually anti-Ro/SS-A and /or anti-La/SS-B and less commonly anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein. Mothers of the infants with NLE are either asymptomatic or diagnosed with autoimmune disease. We describe 3 neonates with clinical and immunological findings compatible with NLE, their progress and outcome.