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Ovarian Aging and Disability in Women with MS
Neurology; ePub 2017 Dec 22; Graves, Henry, et al
As a marker of ovarian aging, lower anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were associated with greater disability and gray matter loss in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) independent of chronological age and disease duration, according to a recent study. Women with MS and healthy controls were included from a longitudinal research cohort with up to 10-year follow-up. Plasma AMH levels were measured for baseline and years 3, 5, and 8–10. Researchers found:
- AMH levels were similar in women with MS (n=412, mean age 42.6 years) and healthy controls (n=180, mean age 44 years).
- In a multivariable model of women with MS, including adjustments for age, body mass index, and disease duration, 10-fold lower AMH level was associated with 0.43-higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, 0.25-unit worse MS Functional Composite z score, and 7.44 mm3 lower cortical gray matter volume at baseline.
- In a multivariable random-intercept–random-slope model using all observations over time, 10-fold decrease in AMH was associated with a 0.27 increase in EDSS and 5.48 mm3 and 4.55 mm3 decreases in total gray and cortical gray matter, respectively.
Graves JS, Henry RG, Cree BAC, et al. Ovarian aging is associated with gray matter volume and disability in women with MS. [Published online ahead of print December 22, 2017]. Neurology. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000004843.