ESPE Abstracts

Objectives: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by Sertoli cells in the testicles and granulosa cells in the ovaries. Increased abdominal adipose tissue initiates metabolic and endocrine disorders and predisposes to polycystic ovary syndrome. AMH is used as a marker in PCOS. A decrease in AMH levels has been reported in adults with obesity and increased central adiposity. The purpose of this study was to assess the serum AMH level and related factors in obese girls during their prepubertal, pubertal, and postmenarchal periods.

Materials and Methods: Anthropometric measurements, physical examination characteristics, and laboratory findings of patients diagnosed with obesity between March and April 2021 in the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic and serum AMH levels were evaluated.

Results: Serum AMH levels were studied from a total of 40 obese girls, 12 (30%) prepubertal, 12 (30%) pubertal, and 16 (40%) postmenarcheal. Their ages were 7.7 (±1.7); 10.3 (±2.1), and 5.4 (±1.8) years, respectively. Serum AMH measurements were 2.4 ng/ml (±2.4); 2.1 ng/ml (±1.1); and 4.6 ng/ml (±3.7), respectively. There was no significant difference when compared to normal AMH levels for their age. Serum AMH levels of postmenarche obese girls were significantly different from prepubertal and pubertal obese girls. There was no significant difference between serum AMH levels of prepubertal and pubertal obese girls. A positive correlation was found between AMH levels and their age (r=0,484, P=0,002), neck (r=0,334, P=0,035), and hip circumferences (r=0,359, P=0,023), body weight (r=0,418, P=0,007), height (r=0,465, P=0,003), and body mass indexes (r=0,329, P=0,038). In addition, a positive correlation was found between serum AMH levels and arm (r=0,677, P=0,015) and waist circumferences (r=0,777, P=0,003), waist-height (r=0,615, P=0,033) and waist-hip ratios (r=0,771, P=0,003, and the weights of prepubertal obese girls (r=0,594, P=0,042). A positive correlation was found between AMH levels and serum luteinizing hormone (r=0,406, P=0,015), estradiol (r=0,392, P=0,022), and testosterone (r=0,671, P=0,002) levels. In addition, there was a negative correlation (r=-0,628, P=0,038) between serum AMH levels and HbA1c levels in pubertal obese girls.

Conclusions: It was found that the AMH level in obese girls increased moderately in the prepubertal period close to the onset of puberty, slightly decreased when puberty began, and increased significantly in the postmenarche period, similar to healthy girls. In addition, there is a positive correlation between the serum AMH level of obese girls and their age, weight, height, and central obesity.

Key words: AMH, obesity, central obesity, puberty.