Autoimmune Oophoritis: A Clinicopathologic Assessment of 12 Cases

Adrenal and ovarian autoimmunity

“…Lymphocytic oophoritis is an exceptional finding in these patients as it has been described in only 6/198 patients with POF not associated with AAD, while in the majority, follicular activity without evidence of lymphocytic infiltration was found (95,(101)(102)(103)(104)(105)(106)(107)(108)(109)(110)(111)(112)(113)(114)(115)(116). These data indicate that the absence of lymphocytic oophoritis cannot be regarded as conclusive evidence against an autoimmune aetiology, as this could equally be due to immunological mechanisms, such as blocking antibodies hypothesized for Savage's syndrome.…”

“…Oophoritis at biopsy was documented in 18/18 patients with POF and AAD (40,(87)(88)(89)(90)(91)(92)(93)(94)(95)(96). Autoimmune oophoritis is characterized by lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration of the endocrine hilar cells, theca interna of growing follicles and corpora lutea.…”

Premature Ovarian Failure and Ovarian Autoimmunity

“…Mild infiltration might be seen in the medulla and hilar region of the ovaries. There is a perivascular and, surprisingly, a perineural infiltration in the hilus of the ovary (200).…”

Ovarian autoimmune disease: clinical concepts and animal models

“…Further, autoimmune POI is almost always associated with autoimmunity against other organs, in particular, autoimmune Addison's disease and the presence of serum autoantibodies targeting the adrenal gland. 19,20 Thus, the incidence of autoimmune POI that is associated with these autoantibodies is approximately 4%. 21 More than 80% of patients with autoimmune Addison's disease possess serum antibodies that recognize the adrenal cortex (adrenal cortex antibodies, ACAs).…”

“…21,32 Additionally, it is reported that primordial follicles are spared, while growing preantral and antral follicles are either destroyed and/or undergo cystic luteinization of granulosa cells. 7,19,20,31,33 (see Figures 1 and 4 for histological features of the ovary).…”