CRANIOFACIAL MALFORMATIONS, GROWTH DELAY, PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION IN TWO UNRELATED INFANTS BORN TO MOTHERS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS TREATED WITH PREDNISONE DURING PREGNANCY

Two unrelated children born from mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and treated with 1400 mg of prednisone during pregnancy were studied. Since birth they showed a similar pattern of clinical findings including low birthweight, respiratory distress, growth delay, brachycephaly, broad forehead, hypoplasic face, ocular hypertelorism, telecantus,severely depressed nasal bridge, short bulbous nose, anteverted and short nostrils, broad philtrum, micrognathia, low set and displastic cars and hypoplastic nails. Psychomotor retardation and recurrent pulmonary infections in early infancy were noted.

The pattern of malformations observed in the patients here described could represent the teratogenic effects of prednisone in human newborns.