Some aspects of interactivity between endocrine and immune systems required for successful reproduction

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of Groups 1 and 2*

	Group 1	Group 2
	(n = 322)	(n = 125)
Age (years)	38.6 ± 5.4	38.9 ± 5.4
BMI** (kg/m²)	24.0 ± 4.9	24.1 ± 4.6
DHEA (ng/dL)	469.2 ± 289.8	467.9 ± 308.9
DHEAS (μg/dL)	253.5 ± 189.0	371.6 ± 233.4
Total testosterone (ng/dL)	26.0 ± 13.7	33.7 ± 23.5
Free testosterone (pg/mL)	2.0 ± 1.5	2.6 ± 1.8
TSH (μIU/mL)	1.9 ± 1.2	1.9 ± 1.0
Thyroid antibodies	22.0%	16.0%
Anti-adrenal antibodies	0.3%	0%
Anti-ovarian antibodies	9.3%	6.4%
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)	13.0%	7.2%
Antiphopholipid antibodies (APA)	14.6%	14.4%
Gammopathy	32.0%	36.0%
Immune system activation***	59.0%	59.2%

*Values are presented as means ± standard deviation or as percentages. Patient characteristics did not differ between both groups except for DHEAS (P < 0.001), total testosterone (P < 0.001) and free testosterone (P < 0.01), all three the consequence of DHEA supplementation for women with LFOR between baseline evaluation and IVF cycle start. For further detail, see text.
Percentages among antibodies represent percentages of patients with positive antibody tests.
**BMI, body mass index.
***Defined by presence of at least 1 positive laboratory test.