Anti-Mullerian hormone in short girls born small for gestational age and the effect of growth hormone treatment

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction is thought to negatively influence reproductive function in later life. Serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a marker of the primordial follicle pool. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of being born small for gestational age (SGA) on serum AMH levels and to investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment on serum AMH levels in short SGA girls. METHODS: Serum AMH levels were investigated in 246 prepubertal girls aged 3-10 years: 119 untreated short SGA and 127 healthy controls. Associations between AMH levels and clinical characteristics were analysed using multiple regression analyses. In addition, we investigated the effect of GH treatment on serum AMH levels in short SGA girls. RESULTS: Serum AMH levels were similar in short SGA and healthy control girls (P = 0.95). In short SGA girls, AMH levels were not significantly influenced by birth weight standard deviation score (SDS), birth length SDS and gestational age, even after adjustment for age, height SDS and body mass index (BMI) SDS at sampling, socio-economic status and maternal smoking during gestation. Serum AMH levels did not change during 4 years of GH treatment in short SGA girls (P = 0.43). CONCLUSIONS: Serum AMH levels in prepubertal short SGA girls are similar to healthy controls, indicating that the follicle pool is not compromised due to SGA birth. GH treatment has no effect on AMH levels in short SGA girls.