Can AMH Levels Distinguish LOCAH from PCOS Among Hirsute Women?

April 2014 in “ European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology ”

Mahmut Oncul, Sezai Sahmay, Abdullah Tüten, Aydan Açikgöz, Hazel Gurleyen

antimullerian hormone AMH late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia LOCAH polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS hirsutism polycystic ovarian morphology PCOM oligo-anovulation OA hyperandrogenism HA ACTH stimulation test ACTH test

TLDR AMH levels can't reliably tell the difference between LOCAH and all types of PCOS in women with excessive hair growth.

The study, conducted on 195 hirsute women, investigated whether antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels could distinguish between late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LOCAH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It found that AMH levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS who had all three main diagnostic criteria (PCOM, OA, and HA) than in those with LOCAH. However, AMH levels did not significantly differ between the LOCAH group and other PCOS subgroups without all three criteria. The study concluded that AMH levels are not a suitable marker for differentiating LOCAH from all PCOS types, indicating that the ACTH stimulation test remains crucial for LOCAH diagnosis.

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