Autoimmunity and reproduction

Objective: To review the association between autoimmunity and reproductive failure. Design: A MEDLINE search done from 1965 to 1996. More than 300 original and review articles were evaluated, from which the most relevant were selected. Result(s): Autoimmune processes now are accepted widely as one of the possible mechanisms of many human diseases. The presence of autoimmune disorders has been associated repeatedly with reproductive failure. On the other hand, reproductive failure may be the first manifestation of autoimmune disorders. Conclusion(s): When abnormal autoantibody levels are present in women with reproductive failure, the reproductive failure alone should be considered as one of the possible clinical expressions of autoimmune disorders. Two relevant questions of whether these patients should be treated for autoimmunity remain unsolved. A prospective, placebo-controlled trial is necessary to evaluate the importance of any treatment. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.