Routine endocrine screening for patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of routine screening for other associated autoimmune endocrine disorders in patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure.


METHODS
One hundred nineteen women with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure (FSH exceeding 40 mIU/mL) who desired fertility were evaluated at a tertiary care academic center by physical examination, measurement of serum free thyroxine and TSH, ACTH stimulation test, fasting serum glucose, 3-hour glucose tolerance test, measurement of serum electrolytes including total calcium, and measurement of serum vitamin B12.


RESULTS
Twenty-two of 119 patients (18.5%) were known to have hypothyroidism and three were known to have Addison disease. Ten new cases of hypothyroidism and three new cases of diabetes mellitus were discovered. However, no new cases of adrenal insufficiency, hypoparathyroidism, or pernicious anemia were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening for hypothyroidism and diabetes appears justified in those patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure who desire fertility. However, our findings suggest that in these patients, testing for other associated autoimmune endocrine disorders may be reserved for those with clinical indications.
Kim
T J
TJ
Section on Women's Health, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Anasti
J N
JN
Flack
M R
MR
Kimzey
L M
LM
Defensor
R A
RA
Nelson
L M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015994:Incidence; D007621:Karyotyping; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results