PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE - STEROID-SYNTHESIS AND AUTOIMMUNITY

The androgen biosynthesis and autoimmunity of 25 patients with prematu re ovarian failure (POF) and 28 control subjects with normal cycles we re examined. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), 1 7-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione, and testosterone were analyzed in POF patients with or without organ-specific autoimmunity, and the results compared with those of women with normal ovarian func tion. The comparative analysis elf DHEAS, 17-OHP, androstenedione and testosterone showed that POF patients Iran significantly lower values than normal women (DHEAS, androstenedione and testosterone p < 0.01, 1 7-OHP p < 0.05). Furthermore, we found one or more organ-specific auto antibodies in 11 patients with POF (44%), while only one woman in the control group shouted autoimmunity (antithyroid microsome) (5.5%). Onl y one patient had both anti-ovarian and anti-adrenal antibodies (4%). The comparison of androgen levels in POF patients with or without auto immunity revealed a statistically significant reduction of DHEAS level s in POF patients with organ-specific autoimmunity (p < 0.01). These d ata reveal the reduction in androgen synthesis in POF patients, partic ularly in those with organ-specific antoimmunity.