Absent biologically relevant associations between serum inhibin B concentrations and characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome in normogonadotrophic anovulatory infertility.
BACKGROUND
Dominant follicle selection is disturbed in normogonadotrophic anovulatory infertility [World Health Organization (WHO) 2] and remaining early antral follicles are either healthy or atretic. This study was conducted to investigate whether inhibin B serum concentrations (produced by healthy small antral follicles) represent the extent of ovarian abnormalities in WHO 2 women and patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), constituting a subgroup of WHO 2 patients.


RESULTS
Ultrasonographic and endocrine characteristics in 379 WHO 2 patients and 30 normo-ovulatory controls were compared. In the WHO 2 patients, the PCOS subgroup and the controls, inhibin B concentrations were similar. Inhibin B concentrations were weakly but significantly correlated with the total number of ovarian follicles (r = 0.282; P < 0.001), LH (r = 0.347; P < 0.001), and testosterone (r = 0.269; P < 0.001) but not with serum oestradiol concentrations (r = 0.057). Most (71%) patients with elevated inhibin B also presented with increased concentrations of LH and/or hyperandrogenaemia. In a subgroup of 190 subjects, classified as PCOS based on hyperandrogenaemia and polycystic ovaries, elevated inhibin B concentrations were found in 23% of cases. Aforementioned correlations were similar in PCOS as in WHO 2 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, inhibin B serum concentrations are normal in WHO 2 and PCOS women, suggesting a normal number of healthy early antral follicles despite increased overall follicle numbers in PCOS.
Laven
J S
JS
Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands. laven@gyna.azr.nl
Imani
B
B
Eijkemans
M J
MJ
de Jong
F H
FH
Fauser
B C
BC
D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000858:Anovulation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014944:World Health Organization
D006062:Gonadotropins; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone