Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age

Abstract Background AMH is a reliable index of ovarian reserve. It is not clear whether, or how much, thyroid function and/or thyroid autoimmunity can impair ovarian function and AMH secretion in the long term. Aim This retrospective cross-sectional study compared AMH levels in pre-menopausal women...

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Main Authors: Massimo Giusti, Miranda Mittica
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-08-01
Series:Thyroid Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-022-00133-5
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author Massimo Giusti
Miranda Mittica
author_facet Massimo Giusti
Miranda Mittica
author_sort Massimo Giusti
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background AMH is a reliable index of ovarian reserve. It is not clear whether, or how much, thyroid function and/or thyroid autoimmunity can impair ovarian function and AMH secretion in the long term. Aim This retrospective cross-sectional study compared AMH levels in pre-menopausal women with/without positive thyroid autoimmunity or hypofunction. Methods From January 2019 to May 2022, AMH was evaluated in 250 pre-menopausal women not undergoing assisted fertility procedures who were referred to a secondary endocrine centre. Thyroid function and autoimmunity, sonographically measured thyroid volume, FSH and E2 in the early follicular phase, and PRL and progesterone in the luteal phase were also evaluated. Exclusion criteria were: age < 18 years, genetic hypogonadism, pregnancy and previous treatments that have potentially damaging effects on gonads. Results We evaluated 171 women (mean age ± SD: 31.5 ± 9.0 years) off L-T4 treatment and 79 women on L-T4 treatment (39.7 ± 9.5 years; P < 0.001). AMH (median, IQR, CI) was 16.1 pmol/l (7.1 – 35.7 pmol/l, 21.4 – 29.9 pmol/l) and 7.6 pmol/l (1.4 – 17.8 pmol/l, 8.6 – 14.7 pmol/l; P < 0.001), respectively. When the women were stratified according to age (18-25, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40, 41-45, > 46 years) no significant difference emerged between those on/off L-T4 treatment in groups of the same age-range. In women on- or off-L-T4 treatment, AMH was negatively related with age on univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.0001). In both groups, AMH was negatively related to FSH (P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, AMH was positively related to the age of the mother on spontaneous menopause (P = 0.006) and negatively to thyroid volume (P = 0.02) in women on L-T4. AMH levels were significantly (P = 0.03) higher in TPOAb-negative than in TPOAb-positive women, but age was significantly (P = 0.001) lower in TPOAb-negative than in TPOAb-positive women. Conclusions In our cohort of women, age proved to be a better predictor of AMH levels than any of the other factors linked to thyroid function and autoimmunity. Our data do not support the hypothesis that subclinical hypothyroidism and/or autoimmunity are associated with decreased ovarian reserve. However, a larger number of cases is needed in order to obtain conclusive data.
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spelling doaj.art-8556f8ebbe334f4e8742792f295e7d442022-12-22T04:01:21ZengBMCThyroid Research1756-66142022-08-011511910.1186/s13044-022-00133-5Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and ageMassimo Giusti0Miranda Mittica1Endocrine Unit, Clinical Diagnostic Centre PriamarLocal Health Service 3 GenoveseAbstract Background AMH is a reliable index of ovarian reserve. It is not clear whether, or how much, thyroid function and/or thyroid autoimmunity can impair ovarian function and AMH secretion in the long term. Aim This retrospective cross-sectional study compared AMH levels in pre-menopausal women with/without positive thyroid autoimmunity or hypofunction. Methods From January 2019 to May 2022, AMH was evaluated in 250 pre-menopausal women not undergoing assisted fertility procedures who were referred to a secondary endocrine centre. Thyroid function and autoimmunity, sonographically measured thyroid volume, FSH and E2 in the early follicular phase, and PRL and progesterone in the luteal phase were also evaluated. Exclusion criteria were: age < 18 years, genetic hypogonadism, pregnancy and previous treatments that have potentially damaging effects on gonads. Results We evaluated 171 women (mean age ± SD: 31.5 ± 9.0 years) off L-T4 treatment and 79 women on L-T4 treatment (39.7 ± 9.5 years; P < 0.001). AMH (median, IQR, CI) was 16.1 pmol/l (7.1 – 35.7 pmol/l, 21.4 – 29.9 pmol/l) and 7.6 pmol/l (1.4 – 17.8 pmol/l, 8.6 – 14.7 pmol/l; P < 0.001), respectively. When the women were stratified according to age (18-25, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40, 41-45, > 46 years) no significant difference emerged between those on/off L-T4 treatment in groups of the same age-range. In women on- or off-L-T4 treatment, AMH was negatively related with age on univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.0001). In both groups, AMH was negatively related to FSH (P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, AMH was positively related to the age of the mother on spontaneous menopause (P = 0.006) and negatively to thyroid volume (P = 0.02) in women on L-T4. AMH levels were significantly (P = 0.03) higher in TPOAb-negative than in TPOAb-positive women, but age was significantly (P = 0.001) lower in TPOAb-negative than in TPOAb-positive women. Conclusions In our cohort of women, age proved to be a better predictor of AMH levels than any of the other factors linked to thyroid function and autoimmunity. Our data do not support the hypothesis that subclinical hypothyroidism and/or autoimmunity are associated with decreased ovarian reserve. However, a larger number of cases is needed in order to obtain conclusive data.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-022-00133-5Thyroid functionThyroid autoimmunityThyroid volumeAMHPre-menopausal women
spellingShingle Massimo Giusti
Miranda Mittica
Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age
Thyroid Research
Thyroid function
Thyroid autoimmunity
Thyroid volume
AMH
Pre-menopausal women
title Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age
title_full Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age
title_fullStr Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age
title_short Evaluation of anti-Müllerian hormone in pre-menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function, autoimmunity and age
title_sort evaluation of anti mullerian hormone in pre menopausal women stratified according to thyroid function autoimmunity and age
topic Thyroid function
Thyroid autoimmunity
Thyroid volume
AMH
Pre-menopausal women
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-022-00133-5
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AT mirandamittica evaluationofantimullerianhormoneinpremenopausalwomenstratifiedaccordingtothyroidfunctionautoimmunityandage