Benita Grossmann1, Sebastian Saur2,3, Katharina Rall4, Ann-Christin Pecher2,3, Stephanie Hübner4, Joerg Henes2,3, Melanie Henes4. 1. Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. 2. Centre for Interdisciplinary Clinical Immunology, Rheumatology and Auto-inflammatory Diseases (INDIRA), Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany. 3. Department of Internal Medicine II (Haematology, Oncology, Immunology and Rheumatology), Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany. 4. Centre for Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between premature ovarian failure and autoimmune disease. Methods: This interdisciplinary prospective study included 52 consecutively recruited women with premature ovarian failure, aged 18-40 years. Diagnosis of premature ovarian failure was defined as amenorrhoea lasting more than 4 months and anti-Müllerian hormone levels below the age-appropriate range. Women with an abnormal karyotype or Fragile X syndrome were excluded from the study. All participants were screened by a rheumatologist for the presence of underlying autoimmune disease. Results: The average age at first diagnosis of premature ovarian failure was 29.5 years; 92.3% of participants (n = 48) presented with a secondary amenorrhoea, while only 7.7% (n = 4) had primary amenorrhoea. Of all 52 participants, 40.4% (n = 21) had at least one confirmed autoimmune disease, including Hashimoto's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, polyglandular autoimmune syndrome and coeliac disease. Response rates for hormonal stimulation therapy were low and the presence of autoimmune disease was associated with poor infertility treatment outcome.Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of autoimmune disease in women with premature ovarian failure. Screening for autoimmune diseases should be offered to all women with premature ovarian failure.
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between premature ovarian failure and autoimmune disease. Methods: This interdisciplinary prospective study included 52 consecutively recruited women with premature ovarian failure, aged 18-40 years. Diagnosis of premature ovarian failure was defined as amenorrhoea lasting more than 4 months and anti-Müllerian hormone levels below the age-appropriate range. Women with an abnormal karyotype or Fragile X syndrome were excluded from the study. All participants were screened by a rheumatologist for the presence of underlying autoimmune disease. Results: The average age at first diagnosis of premature ovarian failure was 29.5 years; 92.3% of participants (n = 48) presented with a secondary amenorrhoea, while only 7.7% (n = 4) had primary amenorrhoea. Of all 52 participants, 40.4% (n = 21) had at least one confirmed autoimmune disease, including Hashimoto's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, polyglandular autoimmune syndrome and coeliac disease. Response rates for hormonal stimulation therapy were low and the presence of autoimmune disease was associated with poor infertility treatment outcome.Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of autoimmune disease in women with premature ovarian failure. Screening for autoimmune diseases should be offered to all women with premature ovarian failure.
Authors: Anna Szeliga; Anna Calik-Ksepka; Marzena Maciejewska-Jeske; Monika Grymowicz; Katarzyna Smolarczyk; Anna Kostrzak; Roman Smolarczyk; Ewa Rudnicka; Blazej Meczekalski Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-03-05 Impact factor: 5.923