Serum anti-mullerian hormone levels in the main phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To characterize the difference in circulating anti-Mallerian hormone (AMH) levels between the main polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypic groups and evaluate the role of AMH in predicting the severity of PCOS. Study design: Cross-sectional, retrospective study. A total of 251 women were divided into four groups based on the main features of PCOS, as follows: Group 1 (polycystic ovarian morphology [PCOM]+/oligo-anovulation[OA]+/hyperandrogenism [HA]+), Group 2 (PCOM+/OA+/HA-), Group 3 (PCOM+/OA-/HA+), and Group 4 (PCOM-/OA+/HA+). AMH and other hormone levels were measured in serum. The main outcome was serum AMH concentrations in the main phenotypes of PCOS. Result(s): The mean serum AMH levels were 9.50 +/- 6.1 ng/mL in Group 1; 8.02 +/- 6.2 ng/mL in Group 2; 6.12 +/- 3.6 ng/mL in Group 3; and 3.06 +/- 2.4 ng/mL in Group 4. Circulating AMH levels in Group 1 (PCOM+/OA+/HA+) were three times higher than those in Group 4 (PCOM-/OA+/HA+). Conclusions: The highest AMH levels were found in cases where all three main diagnostic criteria existed. AMH levels correlate best with PCOM. In addition, oligo-anovulation contributes to increased AMH levels. Hyperandrogenism criteria were found to have less influence on AMH levels. AMH levels seem to have a diagnostic role in determining the severity of PCOS. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.