WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT AUTOANTIBODY ABNORMALITIES AND REPRODUCTIVE FAILURE - A CRITICAL-REVIEW

Condensation: The diagnosis and treatment of autoantibody-associated f orms of reproductive failure is critically reviewed. OBJECTIVE: To cri tically evaluate the published literature in reference to autoantibody -associated forms of reproductive failure. LOCATION: Medical School-af filiated private Infertility Center. MATERIALS: A review of over 200 p ublished papers reflecting on the topic. RESULTS: Autoantibody associa ted reproductive failure, characterized by a decrease in fecundity and an increase in the risk of pregnancy loss, appears established. Autoa ntibody abnormalities, as routinely detected by standard laboratory as says, are, however, neither immunologically nor biologically specific since cross reactivities between autoantibodies are frequent and a spe cific autoantibody may cause a biological effect in one but not in ano ther affected individual. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of autoantibody abnormalities in all cases of suspected autoimmune-associated reproduc tive failure is valuable and will improve clinical care of affected pa tients. Clinicians need, however, to recognize the limitations of auto antibody testing and have to adjust their clinical management to the d egree and quality of autoantibody evaluation available to them in thei r community.