The genetic relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus and risk of primary ovarian failure from a mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Previous studies investigating the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary ovarian failure (POF) generated conflicting results. To data, no mendelian randomization study has been applied to examine this association. In this study, genetic instruments for exposure (SLE) were selected from a GWAS study with 5201 cases and 9066 noncases. Outcome data for POF and three reproductive traits (age at menarche, age at menopause, and age at first live birth) were obtained from other eligible GWASs. To estimate causal association, the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method (the main analyse), MR Egger test, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode were applied. Moreover, sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the results. Estimated by the IVW method, SLE was suggested to be causally related to the risk of POF (OR = 1.166, 95% CI 1.055–1.289, P = 0.003) and delayed age at first live birth (OR = 1.006, 95% CI 1.002–1.010, P = 0.007), with no evidence of a causal association between SLE and age at menopause or menarche. The estimates were robust according to sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, the two-sample MR study supported a causal association between SLE and POF from a genetic aspect.