Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in the diagnosis of adolescent polycystic ovarian syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: ENDOCRINE JOURNAL 2022, Vol.69(8), pp.897-906
• Main Authors: Tsukui, Yumiko, Kitahara, Yoshikazu, Hasegawa, Yuko, Kobayashi, Mio, Osuka, Satoko, Iwase, Akira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH); Ovarian reserve; Polycystic ovary syndrome
• ISSN: 0918-8959; 1348-4540
• DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ22-0081

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that causes menstrual cycle irregularities and infertility. PCOS is diagnosed based on hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM), and an-/oligo-ovulation. Upregulation of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in the serum of women with PCOS may be another suitable alternative diagnostic criterion for PCOM. However, previous meta-analyses have reported conflicting results due to the age-dependent decline in serum AMH levels. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the threshold of AMH for the diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents and women in their early twenties. Fifteen trials were included in this meta-analysis. PCOS is diagnosed with either Rotterdam criteria, NIH, or AE-PCOS. AMH levels were significantly higher in adolescents with PCOS (weighted mean difference, 3.05; 95% confidence interval: 2.09–4.01) than in the control group. The cutoff values of AMH for the diagnosis of adolescent PCOS were 6.1, 6.26, 7.03, 7.11, 7.2, and 7.25 ng/mL in the studies that reported the usefulness of AMH levels. The summary receiver operating characteristic analysis of the diagnostic accuracy demonstrated that the specificity and sensitivity were 81% and 66.3%, respectively. Our meta-analysis demonstrates that AMH may be a useful diagnostic test for adolescent PCOS and, based on the previous studies included in the meta-analysis, its cutoff value was estimated to be 6–7 ng/mL.