Congenital heart block and maternal systemic lupus erythematosus

CONCENITALATRIOVENTRICULARBLOCK (CAVB) is a rare cause of fetal bradycardia. If mistaken for fetal distress, it may lead to inappropriate obstetric intervention and delivery of a premature infant. In this report we present two infants with CAVB. The diagnosis in one was made only following emergency delivery for suspected fetal distress. The second was diagnosed antepartum and the fetus was monitored in utero for some weeks prior to delivery. Both cases occurred in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).