title: Cut-Off Levels of Anti-Mullerian Hormone for The Prediction of Ovarian Response, In Vitro Fertilization Outcome and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) cut-off levels in as- sisted reproductive technology (ART) as predictive factor for individualization of stimulation protocols and to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study, 177 infertile patients were as- sessed for AMH in serum and follicular fluid (FF) on the day of follicular puncture (FP), between 2012 and 2013 in Kiel, Germany. AMH levels and pregnancy rates were compared between low, moderate and high responders and cut-off levels of low and high responders. AMH cut-off levels in pathological cases were evaluated in analysis 1 (OHSS) and in analysis 2 [polycystic ovarian syndrome, (PCOS)] and compared in analysis 3 to normal endocrinological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AMH levels in FF were higher than in serum (P<0.001). AMH levels in serum and FF increased from low through moderate to high responders (P<0.001). Pregnancy rates were 14.7, 23.3 and 44.9% (P=0.009), respectively. AMH cut-off level for poor responders was 0.61 ng/ml in serum with a pregnancy rate of 13.8 and 37.1% for below and above of this level, respectively. For FF, it was 1.43 ng/ml. AMH levels in analysis 1 and 2 were significantly higher than in analysis 3 (P=0.001). AMH cut-off level for OHSS was 1.5 ng/ml in serum with OHSS rates of 80.8 and 19.2 % for above and below of the level, respectively. For FF, it was 2.7 ng/ml. PCOS patients had an AMH cut-off level of 3.9 ng/ml in serum and 6.8 ng/ml in FF, resulting in a PCOS rate of 100% above this level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMH levels can help to assess ovarian response potential and guide ovarian stimulation while avoiding OHSS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mettler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hedderich
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jonat
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deenadayal
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Soeren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von Otte
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eckmann-Scholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas Gerd
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schmutzler
keywords: Anti Mullerian Hormone; Cut-Off Levels; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome; Pregnancy Rate