title: Anti-Mullerian Hormone: Above and Beyond Conventional Ovarian Reserve Markers.
abstract: Management of ovarian dysfunctions requires accurate estimation of ovarian reserve (OR). Therefore, reproductive hormones and antral follicle count (AFC) are assessed to indicate OR. Serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a unique biomarker that has a critical role in folliculogenesis as well as steroidogenesis within ovaries. Secretion from preantral and early antral follicles renders AMH as the earliest marker to show OR decline. In this review we discuss the dynamics of circulating AMH that remarkably vary with sex and age. As it emerges as a marker of gonadal development and reproductive disorders, here we summarize the role of AMH in female reproductive physiology and provide evidence of higher accuracy in predicting ovarian response to stimulation. Further, we attempt to compile potential clinical applications in children and adults. We propose that AMH evaluation has a potential role in effectively monitoring chemotherapy and pelvic radiation induced ovarian toxicity. Furthermore, AMH guided ovarian stimulation can lead to individualization of therapeutic strategies for infertility treatment. However future research on AMH levels within follicular fluid may pave the way to establish it as a marker of "quality" besides "quantity" of the growing follicles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, P.O. Box 74800, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, P.O. Box 74800, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syeda Sadia
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, P.O. Box 74800, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, P.O. Box 74800, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D065851:Ovarian Reserve; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone