Preliminary study on the changes of ovarian reserve, menstruation, and lymphocyte subpopulation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients of childbearing age

Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the ovarian reserve, menstruation, and lymphocyte subpopulation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients of childbearing age. Methods: We enrolled 40 SLE patients of childbearing age and 40 age-matched healthy controls. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was tested by electrochemiluminescence, and lymphocyte subsets were tested by flow cytometry. Menstruation situation was obtained by interview. Results: The AMH level of the SLE group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.001), which was negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR (r = −0.316, p = 0.047)) and disease activity (SLEDAI (r = −0.338, p = 0.033)). The AMH concentration of SLE patients with normal menstruation was higher than those with abnormal menstruation (p < 0.001). The percentages of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and NK (natural killer) cells in the SLE group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). However, the percentages of B cells and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in the SLE group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Decreased AMH and high incidence of abnormal menstruation indicated that autoimmunity activities of SLE can impair the ovarian reserve of female patients. Lymphocytes in SLE patients were in a state of disorder.