Circulating antimüllerian hormone and steroid hormone levels remain high in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome at term

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p><em>Objective:</em> To investigate plasma antimüllerian hormone (AMH) concentration and its relation to steroid hormone levels in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controls at term.</p><p><em>Design:</em> Case–control study.</p><p><em>Setting:</em> University-affiliated hospital.</p><p><em>Patient(s):</em> A total of 74 pregnant women at term: 25 women with PCOS (aged 31.6 ± 3.9 years [mean ± standard deviation], body mass index 24.0 ± 3.9 kg/m², mean gestational length 279 ± 9 days) and 49 controls (aged 31.7 ± 3.3 years, body mass index 24.0 ± 3.3 kg/m², mean gestational length 281 ± 9 days).</p><p><em>Intervention(s):</em> None.</p><p><em>Main Outcome Measure(s):</em> Plasma AMH and steroid hormone levels.</p><p><em>Result(s):</em> Antimüllerian hormone, T, and androstenedione levels were higher in women with PCOS at term compared with controls, whereas estrogen and P levels were similar. The differences were pronounced in women carrying a female fetus. Testosterone and AMH levels correlated positively in both groups, but E₂ levels only in women with PCOS.</p><p><em>Conclusion(s):</em> Pregnant women with PCOS present with elevated AMH and androgen levels even at term, suggesting a hormonal imbalance during PCOS pregnancy. Differences were detected especially in pregnancies with a female fetus, raising the question of whether female pregnancies are more susceptible to AMH and steroid hormone actions.</p></div>