Autoimmune diseases increase the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), leading to early menopause and infertility. A proof-of-concept study investigated whether B-cell depletion with rituximab could reduce autoimmune activity and improve fertility in 10 women with autoimmune POI. The women underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation before and four to six months after rituximab treatment. None showed follicular development before treatment. During the 12-month follow-up, six women developed follicles after rituximab and ovarian hyperstimulation, allowing oocyte retrieval.
Three retrieved oocytes were fertilized and the embryos were preserved. All three women later delivered healthy children. These findings suggest that rituximab followed by ovarian stimulation may improve oocyte development in some women with autoimmune premature ovarian insufficiency. ##Reference##…
