Antiovarian antibody in premature ovarian failure

Premature ovarian failure is a syndrome consisting of primary or secondary amenorrhoea, hypergonodotropiremia and hypoestrogenemia in women under the age of 40. An autoimmune mechanism was suggested as possible etiology when Vallolton and Forbes in 1966-67 found antibodies to the cytoplasm of rabbit ova in 29 of 232 tested sera. Immune mechanism in the pathogenesis of premature ovarian failure (POF) is suggested by association of autoimmune phenomenon with POF in some cases and demonstration of circulating antibodies to ovary in serum samples from women with POF. The incidence of presence of antiovarian antibody of POF patients has been reported earlier. Evidence of autoimmunity is present in 18-92% of patients with POF. In the present study we have studied 18 cases of POF without any overt manifestation of autoimmune disorder but the antiovarian antibody was detected, with the idea that this autoantibody might be the cause of ovarian dysfunction which is evident in POF. Presence of antiovarian antibody in 16.67% cases with POF in our study that ovarian antibodies may play a role in or reflect an autoimmune process responsible for the development of POF.