Autoimmune Oophoritis in the Adolescent

Abstract

Autoimmune oophoritis presents in adolescents as a component of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I or type II. Autoimmune oophoritis can be diagnosed in women with primary ovarian insufficiency in the presence of adrenal cortical or steroid cell antibodies, and/or antibodies to adrenal and ovarian steroidogenic enzymes. The ovaries are cystic macroscopically, with a lymphocytic infiltrate in the steroidogenic theca cells. The immune infiltrate results in low estradiol levels and a compensatory increase in FSH levels. Granulosa cells are spared, and inhibin A and B levels are normal to high. Treatment is aimed at symptom relief with further investigation needed to assess treatment options such as immunosuppression.