title: Immunologic studies in patients with premature ovarian failure.
abstract: Tests for a range of autoantibodies, and counts of lymphocytes, B cells, T cells, and T cell subsets were performed in 45 Chinese patients with premature ovarian failure and 45 age-matched normal control subjects. Eight patients (18%) were positive for at least one autoantibody. Only one patient was positive for antiovarian antibody. Patients with autoantibodies had a significantly higher percentage of circulating B cells. The lymphocyte, T cell, CD4+, and CD8+ counts in patients with premature ovarian failure were significantly higher than those in the control group, but the CD4:CD8 ratio was significantly lower in women with premature ovarian failure. There was a significant negative correlation between plasma estradiol levels and CD8+ counts, and a significant positive correlation between plasma estradiol levels and CD4:CD8 ratios. The changes in lymphocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations in premature ovarian failure may be due to estrogen deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lawton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D008593:Menopause / Q000276:immunology*; D008594:Menopause, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D004958:Estradiol