Antimüllerian hormone serum levels: a putative marker for ovarian aging.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether serum concentrations of antimüllerian hormone may be used as a marker for ovarian aging.


METHODS
Longitudinal observational study.


METHODS
Academic research center.


METHODS
Forty-one normo-ovulatory premenopausal women and 13 healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Concentrations of serum antimüllerian hormone (assessed on two occasions 2.6 +/- 1.7 years apart), FSH, inhibin B, and estradiol and number of ovarian follicles on ultrasonography.


RESULTS
Concentrations of antimüllerian hormone decreased significantly over time (median value, 2.1 microg/L [range, 0.1-7.4 microg/L] at visit 1 vs. 1.3 microg/L [range, 0.0-5.0 microg/L] at visit 2), whereas the number of antral follicles and levels of FSH and inhibin B did not change. During visits 1 and 2, concentrations of antimüllerian hormone correlated with age (r = -.40, P=.01 and r = -.57, P<.001, respectively); number of antral follicles (r =.66, P<.001 and r =.71, P<.001); and, to a lesser extent, with FSH level (r = -.29, P=.07 and r = -.37, P<.05) but not with inhibin B levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum concentrations of antimüllerian hormone decreased over time in young normo-ovulatory women, whereas other markers associated with ovarian aging did not change. Concentrations of antimüllerian hormone correlate with the number of antral follicles and age and less strongly with FSH level. Concentrations of antimüllerian hormone may be a novel marker for ovarian aging.
de Vet
Annemarie
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Laven
Joop S E
JS
de Jong
Frank H
FH
Themmen
Axel P N
AP
Fauser
Bart C J M
BC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D013735:Testicular Hormones; C422364:inhibin B; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone