title: A new endocrinological and immunological syndrome in SLE: elevation of human chorionic gonadotropin and of antibodies directed against ovary and endometrium antigens.
abstract: We have analysed the levels of gonadotropins in male and female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Human chorionic gonadotropin hCG was elevated in 23.8% of patients compared with 12.7% of controls. hCG isolated from the serum of SLE patients was bioactive in vitro. Levels of hCG were significantly correlated with those of its beta-subunit but not with the levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin alphafetoprotein or carcino embryonic antigen. A high percentage of patients presented an organ-specific humoral immune response against ovarian (26.7%) and endometrial (40%) antigens compared with controls (8% and 7.6%, respectively). Endometrial antibodies were significantly correlated to the levels of prolactin. The ovarian tumour marker CA-125 was elevated in 32.5% of patients, including two males. As a whole, these elements delineate a new endocrine and immunological syndrome in SLE in which the elevation of hCG could provide a central physiological explanation for a series of endocrine alterations that characterize this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moncayo
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Moncayo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology*; D017697:Premenopause; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D004247:DNA