Problem: Incipient ovarian failure (IOF) is characterized by regular menstrual cycles, infertility and a raised early-follicular FSH in women under 40. IOF might be a precursor or a mitigated form of premature ovarian failure (POF). Disturbances in the immune system may play a role in ovarian failure.
Method of study: Autoantibodies and lymphocyte subsets were determined in 63 POF patients, 50 IOF patients, and 27 controls.
Results: The prevalence of autoantibodies did not differ between the groups. There was a statistically significant difference in lymphocyte subsets between the control group and the POF group, with the IOF group taking an intermediate position. We found a decrease in percentage of T-suppressor cells with a rise in T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio, a decrease in natural killer cells, and an increase in B lymphocytes and HLA-DR positive T cells.
Conclusions: These data support the concept that IOF is a mitigated form of POF. The question remains whether these changes are the cause or the consequence of the ovarian failure.