%0 Journal Article %T Neonatal lupus erythematosus - prevention is better than cure. %A Liszewska A %A Woźniacka A %J Postepy Dermatol Alergol %V 39 %N 6 %D Dec 2022 %M 36686025 %F 1.664 %R 10.5114/ada.2022.122601 %X Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a congenital autoimmune condition in which the transplacental passage of immunoglobulin G (IgG) directed against auto-antigens causes clinical symptoms in the foetus or neonate. Anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, and to a lesser extent, anti-U1RNP autoantibodies (aAbs) have the strongest association with NLE. However, ~ 50% of affected mothers are asymptomatic despite carrying those aAbs. The clinical picture of the disease is very diverse. Cardiac manifestations are the most severe, including congenital heart block (CHB), with a mortality rate of ~18%. Preventative therapy with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces the recurrence rate of CHB in subsequent pregnancies by ~50%.