Placental abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus: in situ deposition of antinuclear antibodies
Guzman, L.; Avalos, E.; Ortiz, R.; Gurrola, R.; Lopez, E.; Herrera, R.
Journal of Rheumatology 14(5): 924-929
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 2963129 Document Number: 302742
We studied 5 placentae from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for the presence of immunopathologic changes. We found antinuclear antibodies (ANA) deposited along the villi, trophoblast and amnion producing a lupus band-like pattern. The ANA were IgG class and had C3 fixing activity. Of the T cell subsets found in the placenta, OKT8 was the predominant type in patients with SLE and controls. All the patients were ANA positive, and 1 was also positive for anti-Ro(SSA). One newborn, positive for ANA and anti-Ro(SSA), developed neonatal lupus, 1 infant with a cardiac septal defect was ANA negative, and the other infants were normal. Our study demonstrates that in pregnant women with SLE, ANA deposition occurs in the placenta in situ.