ABSTRACT
Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] has been suggested to be linked with autoimmune processes. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization has the potency to stimulate more autoimmune reactions in PCOS patients. In the present study, we considered anti-nuclear antibodies [ANAs] as the hallmark of autoimmune reactions, and investigated the serum level of these antibodies in 35 patients with PCOS [21-38 years old] pre and one-month after electrocauterization, and in 35 fertile healthy women [25-35 years old] as the control group. Serum levels of ANAs, as well as ANA subtyping, were investigated using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. While 3 out of the 35 patients [8.6%] were positive for ANAs before electrocauterization, none of the controls was positive. The number of ANA-positive cases increased following electrocauterization [3 out of 35 [8.6%] before vs. 10 out of 35 [28.6%] after the procedure]. The main ANA subtype in the positive samples was SS-A. The higher ANA level among the PCOS patients suggests association of the disease with autoimmune reactions. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization seems to increase the number of positiveANA patients