Immunochemical and biological characteristics of a human autoantibody to human chorionic gonadotropin and luteinizing hormone

Anti-hCG/LH autoantibodies were found in the serum of an infertile woman a few days after an abortion which occurred after 46 days of amenorrhea. The antibody titer increased for approximately 4 more weeks, and then declined to low levels during a 14-month anovulatory period, after which regular men...

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Published inThe journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 67; no. 6; p. 1317
Main Authors Pala, A, Coghi, I, Spampinato, G, Di Gregorio, R, Strom, R, Carenza, L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.12.1988
Subjects
Abortion, Spontaneous - immunology
Adult
Amenorrhea - immunology
Antibody Affinity
Autoantibodies - metabolism
Autoantibodies - physiology
Chorionic Gonadotropin - immunology
Female
Humans
Luteinizing Hormone - immunology
Neutralization Tests
Pregnancy
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Summary:Anti-hCG/LH autoantibodies were found in the serum of an infertile woman a few days after an abortion which occurred after 46 days of amenorrhea. The antibody titer increased for approximately 4 more weeks, and then declined to low levels during a 14-month anovulatory period, after which regular menses resumed. Immunoglobulins isolated from a pool of serum obtained during the postabortion period neutralized the activity of both hCG and LH in an in vivo bioassay, and the binding affinity of the antibodies toward both hormones was high. When menses were resumed, there was a considerable reduction of the affinity toward LH. The variations in antibody titers and/or affinities can explain the sequence of fertilization, abortion, anovulatory period, and normalization of menses.
ISSN:0021-972X
DOI:10.1210/jcem-67-6-1317