Steroid-cell autoantibodies are preferentially expressed in women with premature ovarian failure who have adrenal autoimmunity

Objective: To determine the prevalence of steroid-cell autoantibodies, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) antibodies, 17α-hydroxylase (17α-OH) antibodies, and P450 side-chain cleavage antibodies in premature ovarian failure. Design: Cross-sectional, observational study. Setting: Academic research hospitals. Patient(s): Eighty-one women with premature ovarian failure, 20 women with Addison disease not associated with premature ovarian failure, 42 women with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 90 healthy women. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum levels of steroid-cell autoantibodies, 17α-OH antibodies, P450 side-chain cleavage antibodies, and 3β-HSD antibodies. Result(s): Steroid-cell autoantibodies were present in none of 57 women with isolated premature ovarian failure or premature ovarian failure plus nonadrenal autoimmune disease and in 21 of 24 (87%) women with Addison disease-related premature ovarian failure. 17α-Hydroxylase antibodies and P450 side-chain cleavage antibodies were significantly more frequent in women positive for adrenal autoantibodies than in those negative for adrenal autoantibodies (50% vs. 0% and 71% vs. 2%, respectively). The presence of 17α-OH antibodies or P450 side-chain cleavage antibodies was strongly associated with presence of steroid-cell autoantibodies. Two of 24 (8%) women with Addison disease-related premature ovarian failure and 1 of 57 (2%) women with isolated premature ovarian failure or premature ovarian failure plus nonadrenal autoimmune disease were positive for 3β-HSD antibodies. None of 20 adult women with autoimmune Addison disease and none of 42 adult women with type 1 diabetes mellitus not associated with premature ovarian failure was positive for 3β-HSD antibodies. Conclusion(s): Markers of steroid-cell autoimmunity are found only rarely in idiopathic premature ovarian failure not associated with Addison disease. Most women with Addison disease-related premature ovarian failure were positive for steroid-cell autoantibodies, 17α-OH antibodies, or P450 side-chain cleavage antibodies. 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase antibodies do not appear to be a major marker of steroid-cell autoimmunity.