Usefulness of the Ultrasensitive Anti-Müllerian Hormone Assay for Predicting True Ovarian Reserve

Serum concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a useful marker for ovarian reserve. Measurement of AMH in clinical practice has gained widespread use to predict parameters such as the ovarian response, menopause, and recovery after chemotherapy. However, undetectable AMH levels assayed by conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits fail to predict depletion of follicles because of low sensitivity of the kits. We investigated whether a recently developed ultrasensitive ELISA kit, picoAMH, would be more effective at detecting very low AMH levels in association with menstrual status. We analyzed 68 women with undetectable serum AMH levels using an ELISA kit, AMH Gen II. The AMH concentration of the same samples was detected in 36 samples using picoAMH; 32 samples were within the standard range, and 4 samples were out of the standard range but still detectable. Thirty-two women whose AMH levels were undetectable using the picoAMH all showed amenorrhea. We also found a significant correlation between the classes of serum AMH levels (undetectable, detectable under the limit of quantification, and measurable within the assay range) and menstrual status. Five of the 6 amenorrheic women with detectable AMH eventually achieved follicle growth. The present study demonstrated that very low AMH levels detectable using picoAMH correspond well to current and future ovulation status. This suggests that serum AMH levels can be useful for the assessment of ovarian reserve and follow-up of women with a declined ovarian reserve.