WHAT REALLY HAPPENS TO FECUNDITY IN AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASES

This article reviews the present data about the effect of autoimmune d isorders on fecundity. It seems that most autoimmune disorders have so me effect on fecundity, although only part of this speculation has bee n confirmed. The limitation of our knowledge is related to the low num ber of studies reported in the literature and to the limited informati on concerning the impact of autoimmune diseases on reproductive perfor mance. Nevertheless, some diseases have been investigated and found to be related to decreased fecundity, namely autoimmune thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, premature ovarian failure syndrome, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Antiphospholipid syn drome has been proven by animal models to exemplify autoantibody-induc ed reproductive failure. These models proved that antiphospholipid ant ibodies are related to reproductive failure by reducing fecundity and inducing pregnancy loss. Further studies are needed to solve the enigm a raised in the title of this article: whether fecundity is affected b y autoimmune diseases, and what are the mechanisms underlying this eff ect.