Luteal-phase inhibin A and follicular-phase inhibin B levels are not characteristic of patients with an elevated LH-to-FSH ratio.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether serum inhibin levels are related to differences in gonadotropin concentrations between patients with an elevated LH-to-FSH ratio (ELF patients) and controls.


METHODS
32 ELF patients were matched with controls by age, body mass index (BMI), and cycle length.


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was found in follicular-phase inhibin B levels or midluteal inhibin A levels between cases and controls. Significant negative correlation was observed between follicular-phase inhibin B concentrations and BMI in ELF patients but not among controls. LH and FSH were positively related to inhibin B levels in ELF patients. Midluteal inhibin A correlated with sex hormone-binding globulin in controls but not in ELF patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither follicular-phase inhibin B levels nor midluteal inhibin A levels are characteristic of patients with an elevated LH-to-FSH ratio. Opposite correlations with LH and BMI suggest dysregulation of inhibin secretion rather than dimeric inhibins having a central role to the endocrinological imbalance observed in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Hauzman
Erik E
EE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, P.O. Box 104, H-1442 Budapest, Hungary. humanic@noi1.sote.hu
Fancsovits
Péter
P
Murber
Akos
A
Rabe
Thomas
T
Strowitzki
Thomas
T
Papp
Zoltán
Z
Urbancsek
János
J
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008183:Luteal Phase; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
C422362:inhibin A; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone