Does autoimmunity play a role in the pathophysiology of premature ovarian ageing?
To determine a possible causative association between autoimmunity and premature ovarian ageing (POA), 394 women undergoing IVF at an academically affiliated private IVF centre were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of autoimmune-related diseases. Out of 162 POA women, 13 (8.0%) demonstrated a history of autoimmune disease(s), while autoimmunity was present in 28 (12.1%) of 232 controls. POA women with poor response (four oocytes or fewer) despite high-dose treatment presented autoimmunity in 7.9%, compared with 12.1% control subjects without autoimmune diseases. When family history was considered (patient and/or first-degree relatives), at least one autoimmune disease was reported in 14 (8.6%) POA and 31 (13.4%) controls with comparable distributions of autoimmune diseases among both groups. Infertile women with premature ovarian ageing and age-appropriate ovarian function show high but comparable prevalences of autoimmune-related diseases. These findings support the assumption that aetiologies other than autoimmune disease lead to POA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Austria. andrea.weghofer@meduniwien.ac.at
Andrea
A
Weghofer
Hayama
H
Brill
Ramona
R
Feichtinger
David
D
Barad
Norbert
N
Gleicher
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology