This has been coming up every so often, each time in a different
clinical situation.

Please note that any antibodies in the breastmilk are *not* absorbed
by the baby, or if they are, it would be in incredibly small amounts
not even remotely likely to cause clinical problems.  Many antibodies
which cause problems in the mother, such as idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura, thyroiditis, hyperthyrodism are, in fact,
IgG antibodies, which appear in the milk in incredibly small amounts,
and these are not specifically the antibodies which are of concern.  I
cannot remember if antinuclear antibody is IgG or IgMambo, but it
would not be a problem.

Some rheumatic diseases, though, do have a genetic basis, though.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC