Cutaneous Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Brain Infarction

ABSTRACT

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an acquired autoimmune disorder caused by the transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies, usually anti-Ro/SSA or anti-La/SSB antibodies, and less commonly U1-ribonucleoprotein. NLE usually involves a single organ, but multiple organ involvement has also been reported. Manifestations of NLE may include cutaneous lesions, congenital heart block, hematological diseases (anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia), hepatic diseases (hepatitis, hepatosplenomegaly, cholestasis), and neurological diseases. Neurological involvement is very rare in infants with NLE. Here, we report a 2-day-old female neonate, born to a clinically asymptomatic mother, presenting with cutaneous lupus lesions and brain infarction as a neurological disease.