J Korean Med Sci.  2008 Feb;23(1):104-110. 10.3346/jkms.2008.23.1.104.

Analysis of Serum Levels of Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Inhibin B, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone with Respect to Age and Menopausal Status

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. jkchung@plaza.snu.ac.kr
  • 2Tumor Immunity Medical Research Center; College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate age-dependent and postmenopausal changes in the serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and to determine which of these markers best reflects the aging process in women. A total of 144 women aged 20-59 yr were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Blood samples were obtained on cycle day 3 of regularly menstruating women (n=111), or at random in postmenopausal women (n=33). Data were analyzed with respect to premenopausal women age groups and compared in pre- and postmenopausal women. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROCAUC) analyses were performed to assess the ability of each marker to discriminate between the pre- and postmenopausal status. Serum levels of AMH, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 decreased and serum levels of FSH increased significantly with age in premenopausal women. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was higher and inhibin B was lower in women in their 20-30's than in 40's. Serum levels of AMH and IGF-I showed a consistent decrease with all age groups. ROCAUC analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of AMH for menopausal status was similar to those of FSH, LH, and inhibin B, and was better than that of IGF-I. In conclusion, the serum AMH level appears to be the best marker of the aging process in premenopausal women.

Keyword

Reproductive Aging; Anti-Mullerian Hormone; Inhibin B; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; FSH

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Factors
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/*blood
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/*blood
Humans
Inhibins/*blood
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3/*blood
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/*analysis
Menopause/*blood
Middle Aged
ROC Curve

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Fitting plots of hormone serum levels according to age. (A) AMH, y=8.438-0.156x; (B) IGF-I, y=667-8.69x; (C) FSH, y=62.8-58.2 Exp[-(x-50)/2]/(1+Exp[-(x-50)/2]); (D) LH, y=21.0-18.2 Exp[-(x-50)/2]/(1+Exp[-(x-50)/2]); (E) E2, y=0.27+45.6 Exp[-(x-50)/2]/(1+Exp[-(x-50)/2])+23.2/(1+(x-50)2/100); (F) Inhibin B, y=-13.4+65.3 Exp[-(x-50)/4]/(1+Exp[-(x-50)/4]); (G) IGFBP-3, y=4540.4-569.66 Exp[-(x-50)2/250].

  • Fig. 2 Receiver operating characteristic curves of serum AMH and IGF-I levels on cycle day 3 for differentiating between premenopausal and postmenopausal women.


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