Autoantibody against testosterone in a woman with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.
We demonstrate that antitestosterone autoantibody is produced in a 24-yr-old woman with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. The serum testosterone level measured by RIA was extremely elevated (5.80 ng/mL); after elution, serum testosterone had returned to a normal female value (0.21 ng/mL). The clinical features were suggestive of no androgen activity. Primary follicles were present in the patent's ovary. After gonadotropin treatment, conception was achieved, and a normal female infant was delivered. A gel filtration study showed that the testosterone-binding activity was eluted at the position of 15,000-kDa Ig. Scatchard analysis revealed a low affinity antibody; the association constant was 0.034 x 10(3) mol-1, and the maximal binding capacity was 162 mumol/mL. An immunoprecipitation study the chain-specific antibodies showed that the antitestosterone autoantibody belonged to kappa-type IgG. This subject is the first reported case with an endocrine disorder who possessed autoantibodies against testosterone.
Kuwahara
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Japan.
Kamada
M
M
Irahara
M
M
Naka
O
O
Yamashita
T
T
Aono
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D007621:Karyotyping; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000473:pathology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013739:Testosterone; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone