Ro/SSA autoantibody-positive pregnancy: reactions to serial fetal Doppler echocardiographic surveillance.
OBJECTIVE
The risk for congenital heart block (CHB) associated with maternal Ro/SSA autoantibodies is low, but the possibility of treating early stages of disease has seen the introduction of Doppler echocardiographic surveillance programs with serial examinations during the CHB susceptibility weeks of pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to understand how Ro/SSA autoantibody-positive women having undergone Doppler echocardiographic surveillance programs and giving birth to children without CHB experienced their pregnancy and frequent ultrasound examinations.


METHODS
A validated questionnaire based on data from an interview-study was distributed to Ro/SSA-positive women supervised with Doppler examinations during their pregnancy (n = 100).


RESULTS
The response rate was 79%. The majority of the women (61%) reported that the increased number of ultrasound examinations influenced their pregnancy, but in a positive way, with qualified information and additional support from health care personnel in conjunction with the examinations. Further, the visits to the clinic provided opportunities to see the ultrasound picture of the expected infant. However, one-third of the women also reported stress in relation to the examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal echocardiographic surveillance holds many and predominantly positive effects for Ro/SSA-positive women during pregnancy in addition to the medical advantages.
['Tingström|J|J|', 'Hjelmstedt|A|A|', 'Welin Henriksson|E|E|', 'Sonesson|S-E|SE|', 'Wahren-Herlenius|M|M|']
D000328:Adult D001323:Autoantibodies D001324:Autoantigens D002648:Child D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler D005260:Female D006327:Heart Block D006801:Humans D007231:Infant, Newborn D008875:Middle Aged D011247:Pregnancy D011248:Pregnancy Complications D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic D012261:Ribonucleoproteins D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
pregnancy Congenital heart block Ro/SSA autoantibodies Doppler echocardiography Sjögren’s syndrome systemic lupus erythematosus