Incipient ovarian failure and premature ovarian failure show the same immunological profile.

PROBLEM

Incipient ovarian failure (IOF) is characterized by regular menstrual cycles, infertility and a raised early-follicular FSH in women under 40. IOF might be a precursor or a mitigated form of premature ovarian failure (POF). Disturbances in the immune system may play a role in ovarian failure.

METHOD OF STUDY

Autoantibodies and lymphocyte subsets were determined in 63 POF patients, 50 IOF patients, and 27 controls.

RESULTS

The prevalence of autoantibodies did not differ between the groups. There was a statistically significant difference in lymphocyte subsets between the control group and the POF group, with the IOF group taking an intermediate position. We found a decrease in percentage of T-suppressor cells with a rise in T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio, a decrease in natural killer cells, and an increase in B lymphocytes and HLA-DR positive T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the concept that IOF is a mitigated form of POF. The question remains whether these changes are the cause or the consequence of the ovarian failure.