INFERTILITY IN WOMEN WITH PEMPHIGUS-VULGARIS AND OTHER AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASES

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmu ne diseases may adversely affect reproductive function and could resul t in infertility. Objective: Our purpose was to describe nine young wo men with PV and infertility. Methods: A retrospective study was perfor med. Clinical characteristics, immunopathologic features, treatment, c linical course, and long-term follow-up were determined. Results: Eigh t of nine patients were unable to become pregnant. One patient became pregnant during a period of remission. In eight of the nine patients, the cause of infertility was ovarian. Anti-sperm antibodies were prese nt in two of the patients. Conclusion: Some patients with PV may have infertility. No definitive conclusion about the frequency of infertili ty in these patients or its relation to PV can be drawn. However, thes e observations indirectly demonstrate that there may be important inte ractions between the immune and hormonal systems.