Autoantibodies to steroidogenic enzymes in patients with premature ovarian failure with and without Addison's disease.
METHODS
Adrenal cortex autoantibodies (ACA), steroid-producing cell autoantibodies (StCA) and autoantibodies (Abs) to steroidogenic enzymes in three groups of patients with premature ovarian failure (POF), 15 with autoimmune Addison's disease (AD), 26 with non-adrenal autoimmune diseases and 31 with isolated POF, have been assessed.


METHODS
ACA and StCA were measured using an immunofluorescence technique. Abs to 21-hydroxylase (21-OH), to 17alpha-hydroxylase (17alpha-OH) and to cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc) were measured using an immunoprecipitation assay.


RESULTS
Seventy-three percent of patients with POF and AD were positive for StCA, 93% for 17alpha-OH and/or P450scc Abs, 93% for ACA and 100% for 21-OH Abs. Among patients with POF and non-adrenal autoimmune diseases, 8% were positive for StCA, 12% for 17alpha-OH and/or P450scc Abs, and 8% and 12% for ACA and 21-OH Abs respectively. StCA, 17alpha-OH and/or P450scc Abs were all found in 10% of patients with isolated POF, and 13% had ACA and 21-OH Abs. All StCA-, 17alpha-OH- and/or P450scc Abs-positive patients were also positive for ACA and 21-OH Abs. Two patients with isolated POF who were ACA and 21-OH Ab positive developed AD 3 and 5 Years after the onset of POF.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that, when POF is associated with AD, StCA, 17alpha-OH and/or P450scc Abs are present in the majority of patients, while in the other two groups these Abs are detectable in a much lower proportion of patients. Measurement of ACA/21-OH Abs in some patients with POF may be important in identifying patients at risk of developing overt AD.
Dal Pra
C
C
Chair of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua, Via Ospedale 105, Padua, Italy.
Chen
S
S
Furmaniak
J
J
Smith
B Rees
BR
Pedini
B
B
Moscon
A
A
Zanchetta
R
R
Betterle
C
C
D000224:Addison Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000276:immunology; D004798:Enzymes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000276:immunology; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D004798:Enzymes; D013256:Steroids; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme