NEONATAL LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - AN UNUSUAL CONGENITAL PRESENTATION WITH CUTANEOUS ATROPHY, EROSIONS, ALOPECIA, AND PANCYTOPENIA

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare disorder believed to be c aused by the transplacental passage of specific autoantibodies from th e mother to the fetus, Affected infants typically present with either characteristic skin lesions developing in the first month or later in life or congenital heart block. We report a very unusual case of NLE t hat was characterized by congenital skin atrophy, erosions, alopecia, and profound pancytopenia, Ro, La, and RNP antibodies were absent, and the diagnosis was made because of light microscopic and immunofluores cent findings, This case emphasizes that NLE can have widespread conge nital skin involvement and suggests that at least some cases are media ted by antibodies other than Ro, La, and RNP.