Ovarian reserve in women with a previous history of severe pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Severe pre-eclampsia affects maternal health with long-term consequences. It is postulated that during the process of implantation and cell differentiation, embryos resulting from the fertilization of ageing oocytes produce malfunctioning trophoectoderm leading to placental dysfunction. Therefore, severe pre-eclampsia may be associated with a decreased ovarian reserve. The objective of this study was to compare serum markers of ovarian reserve and function between women who had severe pre-eclampsia and those who had normal pregnancies.


METHODS
Twenty women who had severe pre-eclampsia (PE) and 20 who had uncomplicated pregnancies (controls) matched for age and body mass index were included in the study. Fasting blood samples were taken during the follicular phase (day 5) of the menstrual cycle 6 months to 5 years after the delivery. Serum was separated and frozen at -70 °C until analyzed for anti-Mϋllerian hormone (AMH), total and free testosterone (TT), free-androgen index (FAI), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) hormone to evaluate ovarian reserve and function, and the results were compared between two groups.


RESULTS
The median AMH was 0.91 ng/mL in PE group compared to 0.72 ng/mL in controls (p = 0.995). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the levels of LH (5.65 vs. 5.4 IU/L, respectively, p = 0.897) and FSH (4.95 vs. 5.1 IU/L, respectively, p = 0.523). However, total and free-TT levels as well as FAI were significantly lower in the PE group compared to controls (p = 0.017, p = 0.006, and p = 0.011, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian reserve and function are not altered significantly in women with a previous history of pre-eclampsia compared with women who had an uncomplicated pregnancy.
Homerton Fertility Centre, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, E9 6SR, UK. priya.bhide@homerton.nhs.uk.
Priya
P
Bhide
Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
Åse
Å
Vårtun
Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Berit
B
Aune
Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Kari
K
Flo
Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Purusotam
P
Basnet
Women's Health and Perinatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Ganesh
G
Acharya
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009865:Oocytes; D065851:Ovarian Reserve / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D050477:Urofollitropin / Q000097:blood
D050477:Urofollitropin; D013739:Testosterone; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Ovarian reserve; Severe pre-eclampsia