Autoimmune Ovarian Failure in Adolescent Girls

Overview

Background.
The aim of the study was to map the incidence of antiovarian antibodies (AOA) in adolescent girls with ovarian cycle irregularities in comparison with girls with the regular cycle. The relation between the AOA positivity and structural changes in the bioptic samples of ovaria was examined. 

Material and Results. The studied cohort included 39 girls with primary amenorrhea (N=18) and oligo/secondary amenorrhea (N=21). All patients were tested for the presence of antiovarian antibodies (AOA) in the serum and levels of FSH and LH. The examination was done at the beginning of the study and after six months of therapy, in most of the cases by the hormone substitution treatment. In indicated cases the laparoscopic ovarian biopsy was done. A patients with serious failure of ovarian cycle the positivity of antibodies against various components of ovaria was found. Significantly higher levels of FSH was also found, LH levels were not higher. In our patients the depletion and alteration of the follicular apparatus in the cortex of ovaria belonged to the common findings. The control examination after the six month of hormonal substitution brought about lower levels of AOA, in some patients AOA fully disappeared. 

Conclusions.
Incidence mapping of antiovarian antibodies in patients with ovarian cycle irregularities correlate with findings of elevated atresia. Ovarian cycle irregularities can later or earlier turn into the extinction of the follicular apparatus and fibrotization of the ovarian cortex. 

Key words:
autoimmune ovarian failure, premature ovarian failure, antiovarian antibodies, adolescent girls, hormonal substitution therapy.