Premium
Autoimmune Oophoritis in the Adolescent
Author(s) -
Welt Corrine K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1429.006
Subject(s) - immunosuppression , endocrinology , medicine , theca , antibody , adrenal insufficiency , immune system , autoimmunity , premature ovarian failure , autoimmune disease , delayed puberty , immunology , ovary , hormone
Autoimmune oophoritis presents in adolescents as a component of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I or type II. Autoimmune oophoritis can be diagnosed in women with primary ovarian insufficiency in the presence of adrenal cortical or steroid cell antibodies, and/or antibodies to adrenal and ovarian steroidogenic enzymes. The ovaries are cystic macroscopically, with a lymphocytic infiltrate in the steroidogenic theca cells. The immune infiltrate results in low estradiol levels and a compensatory increase in FSH levels. Granulosa cells are spared, and inhibin A and B levels are normal to high. Treatment is aimed at symptom relief with further investigation needed to assess treatment options such as immunosuppression.