Polycystic ovary syndrome and anti-Müllerian hormone: role of insulin resistance, androgens, obesity and gonadotrophins

Abstract

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder associated with insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, obesity, altered gonadotrophin release and anovulatory infertility. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been proposed as a marker of ovarian function and fertility. Across a cohort of lean and overweight women with and without PCOS, we investigated the association of AMH with insulin resistance and body composition using gold standard measures. A secondary aim was to examine whether AMH was useful to determine PCOS status. Design: Cross-sectional study. Patients: A total of 22 lean and 21 overweight women with PCOS and 19 lean and 16 overweight non-PCOS healthy controls were recruited. PCOS was diagnosed based on the Rotterdam criteria. Measurements: Euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp for assessing insulin resistance, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography for assessing adiposity, and blood sampling for the assessment of androgens, gonadotrophins and AMH. Results: Anti-Müllerian hormone levels were increased in women with PCOS (P <0·001) regardless of adiposity, with this increase associated with testosterone (P <0·001) rather than insulin resistance (P = 0·79), adiposity (P = 0·98) or gonadotrophins. In assessing the ability of AMH to predict PCOS, a value of 30 pmol/l or higher indicated 79% of women with PCOS were correctly identified as having the condition. Conclusion: Anti-Müllerian hormone appears primarily related to androgen status suggesting a direct and predominant role of androgens in the pathophysiology of reproductive dysfunction in PCOS. As AMH reflects PCOS status, it may also be useful in PCOS diagnosis.Samantha Cassar, Helena J. Teede, Lisa J. Moran, Anju E. Joham, Cheryce L. Harrison, Boyd J. Strauss and Nigel K. Stept