Fatal cardiac arrest in an adult patient with euthyroid anti-SSA/Ro-positive connective tissue disease: a case report

BACKGROUND: Until recently, anti-SSA/Ro antibodies were not considered pathogenic for severe heart disease in adults. Prolongation of the mean QTc interval in electrocardiograms of adult patients with anti-SSA/Ro-positive connective tissue disease has been reported and could contribute to complex arrhythmias in such patients. Furthermore, complete heart block may also be related to these autoantibodies. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the occurrence of fatal complete heart block in a euthyroid adult patient with undifferentiated connective tissue disease and polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type 2 associated with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction who had normal QTc interval. The patient's serum contained anti-SSA/Ro. CONCLUSION: This case might indicate that, although the adult heart conduction system may be relatively resistant to the development of anti-Ro-associated complete heart block, cardiac arrest may develop and even be fatal.