Anti-Müllerian hormone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after therapy with metformin

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is largely expressed throughout folliculogenesis and its levels may represent both the quantity and quality of ovarian follicle pool. We conducted this study to evaluate the levels of AMH in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) before and after metformin therapy. 22 consecutive patients with PCOS and 20 healthy age-matched controls were investigated. The patients received 2 550 mg/day metformin for 6 months. Serum levels of AMH, sex hormones, insulin, blood glucose, and lipids were measured before and after metformin therapy. The basal AMH levels in patients with PCOS (42.34±6.42 pmol/l) were significantly elevated in comparison with the controls (21.58±3.41 pmol/l), p=0.008. 17 patients completed 6 months therapy with metformin. Of them, 13 responded clinically by restoration of regular menstrual cycles. The AMH levels of these 13 women decreased from 45.67±9.30 pmol/l to 38.25±6.89 pmol/l (16.27%). In the other 4 patients who did not show satisfactory clinical response to metformin, AMH levels increased from 31.30±16.52 to 80.77±12.73 (p=0.021). The patients who responded to metformin were significantly overweight, had higher BMI, waist circumference, body fat, and blood pressure as compared to nonresponders. AMH levels are significantly elevated in women with PCOS and they may serve as a marker for evaluation of treatment efficacy with metformin. Furthermore, obese PCOS patients are more likely to respond to metformin therapy with maximal doses as compared to the ones with low body mass index.