Steroid Therapy in Autoimmune Premature Ovarian Failure

Launched by EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (NICHD) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Autoimmune oophoritis is a distinct clinical entity and a known cause of premature ovarian failure. It is characterized by the presence of circulating adrenal antibodies. No therapy for infertile patients with premature ovarian failure due to autoimmune oophoritis has been proven effective by prospective controlled study. Anecdotal reports have suggested that high-dose, long-term prednisone therapy may be useful in treating autoimmune ovarian failure. However, prednisone, when used in high-dose for a long-term has substantial side effects, including aseptic necrosis of bone requiring major ...

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• Women 18 to 39 years of age with premature ovarian failure who meet the following requirements will be candidates for the study:
• • At least a four month history of amenorrhea not due to pregnancy,
• • Clearly elevated gonadotropins with a serum FSH greater than or equal to 40 IU/L on two separate occasions at least one month apart,
• • Positive adrenal or ovarian antibodies demonstrated by indirect immuno-fluorescence using monkey tissue as substrate or other laboratory evidence of steroidogenic cell autoimmunity such as the presence of antibodies against 21-hydroxylase,
• • No evidence for genetic, metabolic, toxic, or iatrogenic cause of the ovarian failure,
• • No medical contraindication to glycocorticoid therapy,
• • No glycocorticoid therapy taken in the past year (patients on appropriate replacement therapy for Addison's disease are not excluded),
• • No medical contraindication to pregnancy.