Higher luteinizing hormone levels associated with antimüllerian hormone in postmenarchal daughters of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To study the reproductive and metabolic differences between daughters of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSd) and control women (Cd) after menarche.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Clinical endocrinology unit.

Patient(s): We studied 43 PCOSd and 28 Cd 1.5-6 years after menarche.

Intervention(s): Determination of anthropometry, pubertal development, hirsutism, oral glucose tolerance test, and GnRH analogue test.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Ferriman score, sex steroids, gonadotropins, antimüllerian hormone (AMH), ovarian volumes, and glucose and insulin levels.

Result(s): The groups were similar in chronologic, gynecologic, and menarchal ages and anthropometric variables. Ferriman score, ovarian volumes, and AMH were higher in PCOSd. Propensity score analysis showed that there were significant differences in LH, LH-FSH ratio, T and free androgen index, post-stimulated LH and LH-FSH ratio, and 2-hour insulin that could be attributed only to the fact of being a PCOS daughter. The generalized linear model showed that higher LH levels were positively associated with AMH and T levels.

Conclusion(s): We found that higher LH, androgen, and insulin levels are present in PCOSd during the postmenarchal period, which may establish the basis for the development of PCOS during adulthood. Moreover, LH levels were associated with AMH levels, which supports that the neuroendocrine feedback proposed for AMH and LH is present in humans and that this feature is probably programed in utero, as recently shown in mice.