Copeptin: A potential marker for the prediction of poor ovarian reserve in the infertile women

Objective: There is actually no evidence regarding the physiological effects of copeptin in infertile women with different ovarian reserve types. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of serum copeptin level with poor ovarian reserve (POR) and to reveal the predictive value of copeptin for POR development in the infertile women. Materials and Methods: All participant women were classified as the control group (n=77) included the women with diagnosis of unexplained infertility and the POR group (n=61) was composed of the women who met the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology consensus on POR [serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations below 1.1 ng/mL]. The biochemical tests, including estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, AMH and copeptin were analysed. The analyses of serum copeptin concentrations were measured by the means of competitive enzyme immunoassay. Results: A significant increase in the serum copeptin level existed only in the POR group. There was a significant positive correlation between serum copeptin with E2 and FSH levels in the POR group. Significant negative correlations between copeptin and AMH concentrations (r=-0.310, p=0.015) and between copeptin concentration and antral follicle counts (r=-0.284, p=0.027) were detected only in the POR group. The estimated areas under receiver operating characteristic curves for serum concentration were found to be statistically significant with a cut-off value of 3.52 (95% confidence interval 0.519-0.709), sensitivity 0.90 and specificity 0.72. Conclusion: This study confirmed that there was an elevated serum copeptin concentration in the infertile women with POR and that serum copeptin concentration may have a predictive value for POR diagnosis.