[The importance of the interpretation of autoantibodies: apropos of a case with anti-Ro antibodies during pregnancy]

Anti-Ro antibodies are autoantibodies which are directed against cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens. They are found in serum of patients suffering from Sjogren syndrome (70% of the cases) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, about 20%). In SLE patients who are pregnant the anti-Ro antibodies are found in the serum of the newborn and have been associated with congenital heart block. We present here the case of a pregnant woman without clinical disease but with high titers of antinuclear, anti-RNP and anti-Ro antibodies. Pregnancy and delivery were uneventful and the three autoantibodies were found in the newborn's serum. We conclude that the presence of several autoantibodies, even in high titers and in a pregnant woman, should be interpreted with caution, in light of the clinical presentation.