Anti-Mullerian hormone, a marker for metformin therapy efficacy in polycystic ovarian syndrome: a pilot study on an Egyptian population

Abstract

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in adult women, and is emerging as a common cause of menstrual disturbance in the adolescent population. Insulin resistance, which is considered one of its underlying causes, has increased markedly in the past decade, placing more adolescent girls at risk for PCOS and its complications. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is secreted by the granulose cells of ovarian follicles and correlated with the count of small antral follicles and it is expressed throughout folliculogenesis. Objective This study aimed to evaluate AMH in Egyptian women with PCOS and to determine whether it might serve as a prognostic marker for treatment efficacy with metformin. Patients and methods This study included 30 women with PCOS (group 1) and 30 healthy women without PCOS (group 2). AMH was measured in both groups, and before and after treatment with metformin (2550 mg) for 3 months in group 1. Results AMH levels were higher in PCO groups before (3.54±0.58 ng/ml) and after treatment (2.79±0.39 ng/ml) than the control group (2.14±0.49 ng/ml), with P value less than 0.01. In the PCO group, it was higher before (3.54±0.58 ng/ml) than after treatment (2.79±0.39 ng/ml), with P value less than 0.01. Conclusion AMH is higher in PCO patients and its levels decrease significantly with the insulin sensitizer metformin, and it can be used as a marker for treatment efficacy with metformin.