Preventive IVIG Therapy for Congenital Heart Block
United States20 participantsStarted 2007-04
Plain-language summary
Neonatal lupus (NL) is the name given to a group of conditions that can affect the babies of mothers who have certain autoantibodies against components of the body's cells that are called SSA/Ro and SSB/La. NL can appear as a temporary rash that usually goes away by the time the baby is 6 months old, or very rarely an abnormal blood or liver condition that also improves with time - or it can cause permanent and often life-threatening damage to the fetal heart, known as congenital heart block (CHB). In women with anti-Ro/La antibodies who are pregnant for the first time, only about 2% of the babies will develop CHB. But for a woman who has already had a child with CHB or NL rash, the risk of CHB in her next pregnancy is nearly 20%. Unfortunately, once complete (third degree) heart block has been unequivocally identified in a fetus, it has never been reversed with any of the therapies that have been tried to date. Our previous studies strongly indicate that scarring of the conduction system (the heart's own natural "pacemaker"), a consequence of inflammation triggered by the mother's antibodies, damages or even destroys the cells that allow the heart to beat at a normal rhythm. Instead, the damaged heart beats extremely slowly, to an extent that is fatal to nearly 20% of affected babies (with most deaths occurring as fetal demises). Nearly all surviving children with CHB require permanent implantation of a pacemaker device. Because it is so difficult to treat or repair the damaged heart, a high-priority strategy is to try to prevent the inflammatory process before irreversible scarring can occur. The aim of this clinical-based proposal is to determine whether treating the pregnant mother with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) will prevent the development of CHB.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 50 Years
Sex
FEMALE
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Mother must currently have an intrauterine pregnancy of less than 12 weeks.
* Mother must have antibodies to SSA/Ro and/or SSB/La (will be confirmed in the clinical immunology laboratory at the Principal Investigator's institution, the NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases).
* Mother can be asymptomatic or have any rheumatic disease (such as lupus, Sjogren syndrome or other).
* Mother must have had a previous child with one of the following: (a) congenital heart block (any degree) documented by EKG if live birth and/or echocardiogram if fetal demise; (b) characteristic neonatal lupus rash confirmed by photograph revealing annular lesions (evaluated by the PI), dermatology note, and/or biopsy; (c) congenital heart block and rash.
* Mother may be taking 20 mg prednisone per day or less.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Mother does not have antibodies to either SSA/Ro or SSB/La.
* Mother is taking greater than 20 mg prednisone per day.
* Mother has any condition that would contraindicate the use of IVIG: (a) prior serious reaction to IVIG infusion; (b) known IgA deficiency; (c) intolerance of volume load, e.g., congestive heart failure; (d) nephrotic syndrome.
* Identification in the fetus of any of the following structural lesions considered causal for congenital heart block: (a) atrioventricular septal defects; (b) single ventricle; (c) developmental tricuspid valve disease; (d) L-transposition of the great arteries; (e) heterotaxia.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.