<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000904775-03-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031023
<FILING-DATE>20031028
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ADVANCED BIOTHERAPY INC
<CIK>0000791833
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8731
<IRS-NUMBER>510402415
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6355 TOPANGA CANYON BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE 510
<CITY>WOODLAND HILLS
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91367
<PHONE>8188833956
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6355 TOPANGA CANYON BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE 510
<CITY>WOODLAND HILLS
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91367
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ADVANCED BIOTHERAPY CONCEPTS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19990524
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KIPHART RICHARD P
<CIK>0000904775
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26323
<FILM-NUMBER>03962016
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O WILLIAM BLAIR &COMPANY, LLC
<STREET2>222 WEST ADAMS STREET
<CITY>CHICAGO
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60606
<PHONE>312
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O WILLIAM BLAIR &COMPANY, LLC
<STREET2>222 WEST ADAMS STREET
<CITY>CHICAGO
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60606
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-23</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000791833</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADVANCED BIOTHERAPY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADVB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904775</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KIPHART RICHARD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WILLIAM BLAIR &amp; COMPANY, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>222 WEST ADAMS STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Debt</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>117644</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12947476</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Debt</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-06-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>581108</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13528584</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Debt</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>700000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-10-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2800000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16328584</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Accrued interest for the semi-annual period ended June 30, 2003, paid in additional Subordinated Convertible Pay-In-Kind Notes due September 30, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Accrued Interest for the semi-annual period ended June 30, 2003, paid in additional Subordinated Convertible Pay-In-Kind Notes due June 1, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes options to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock reported on Amended Form 5 filed on February 7, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard P. Kiphart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
