Autoimmune oophoritis in the adolescent

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008:1135:118-22. doi: 10.1196/annals.1429.006.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autoantibodies
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Inhibins / blood
  • Oophoritis / drug therapy
  • Oophoritis / immunology*
  • Ovary / immunology
  • Ovary / pathology*
  • Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / drug therapy
  • Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • inhibin A
  • inhibin B
  • Estradiol
  • Inhibins
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone