title: Pituitary-ovary axis and ovarian reserve in fertile women with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.
abstract: Since a decline in the ovary function might impact the reproductive potential in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), we investigated the pituitary-ovary axis and ovarian reserve, including anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and ultrasound imaging of the ovaries, of 25 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 25 age-matched healthy controls. Mean levels of pituitary-gonadal hormones and age-adjusted parameters of ovarian reserve markers were not significantly different between both groups. Patients with higher disease activity (annualized relapse rate >0.5; n=9) had significantly lower AMH levels, total antral follicle count and ovarian volume, than those with lower disease activity. The finding of poorer ovarian reserve associated with higher disease activity should be taken into consideration since it may negatively impact the reproductive prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.affiliation: Institut Clinic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Martínez-Lapiscina
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solà-Valls
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and Hospital Parc Tauli,Spain.
authors.forename: Mariona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hervàs
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llufriu
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Delon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: La Puma
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Diagnostic Center, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casals
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villoslada
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graus
authors.affiliation: Institut Clinic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Camil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castelo-Branco
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain asaiz@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D065851:Ovarian Reserve; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; anti-Müllerian hormone; antral follicle count; disease modifying therapies; ovarian reserve; ovarian volume; sex hormones