Serum anti-Müllerian hormone, inhibin B, and total inhibin levels in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea and anorexia nervosa

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Jan;28(1):34-8. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2011.579664. Epub 2011 Jun 1.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether neuroendocrine forms of secondary amenorrhea (hypothalamic nervosa (HA) and anorexia nervosa (AN)) affect serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, and total inhibin levels.

Methods: Amenorrheic women (n = 82) (aged between 16 and 35 years old) according to diagnosed with neuroendocrine forms of amenorrhea: HA (n = 64), AN (n = 18), and healthy women (n = 41) (control group) were enrolled. Serum AMH, inhibin B, and total inhibin levels were measured by specific ELISA.

Results: No statistically significant difference of AMH serum levels between women with HA, AN, and control group was observed. Serum inhibin B and total inhibin levels in women with HA (p < 0.0001), AN (p < 0.05) resulted significantly lower than in control healthy women.

Conclusion: The present data showed that neuroendocrine forms of amenorrhea are associated with an impaired inhibin secretion while not AMH. These data indirectly support that AMH is an excellent marker of ovarian reserve and its secretion is not influenced by the hypothalamic-ovarian axis activity.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amenorrhea / blood*
  • Amenorrhea / etiology
  • Anorexia Nervosa / blood*
  • Anorexia Nervosa / complications
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamic Diseases / blood*
  • Hypothalamic Diseases / complications
  • Inhibins / blood*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / blood
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / complications
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • inhibin B
  • Inhibins
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone