title: Reproductive aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an auto-immune systemic disease showing a strong predilection for women of reproductive age. Higher prevalance of SLE among young women are in part accounted for by the effects of estrogen hormone on immune system. The key pathophysiological features of this disease are the generation of autoantibodies and the deposition of antibody-antigen complexes in the basal membranes of the organs where they evoke inflammatory responses and injury. Young females diagnosed with SLE are more prone to developing a multitude of adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes, especially in the presence of active disease. Our motivation in writing this review article is to outline the recent interesting findings of molecular and clinical studies showing multi-faceted roles of estrogen hormone in both normal immune function and auto-immunity and to provide an update on the ovarian function and other poor reproductive outcomes in young females with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Koc University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Istanbul, Turkey; American Hospital Women's Health Center, Assisted Reproduction Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Care and Fertility Preservation Programs, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ooktem@ku.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oktem
authors.affiliation: Koc University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hande
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.affiliation: Koc University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bengisu
authors.affiliation: Koc University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Istanbul, Turkey; American Hospital Women's Health Center, Assisted Reproduction Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Care and Fertility Preservation Programs, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Urman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D004967:Estrogens
keywords: Amenorrhea; Chemotherapy; Estrogen; Fertility preservation; Immunity; Infertility; Lupus complications; Reproductive outcome; Systemic lupus erythematosus