Assessment of Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) as an Independent Marker for Oligozoospermia and Non-Obstructive Azoospermia in Infertile Nigerian Men

Abstract

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a Sertoli cell-derived glycoprotein that mediates regression of Müllerian duct in male embryos. The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of serum AMH in the detection of oligozoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) in a homogenous population of Nigerian men. This case-controlled prospective study was conducted on eighty male subjects (aged 18-45 years), at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Subjects were classified as control (n=30), oligozoospermic (n=27) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA; n=23) (World Health Organization, 2010). Serum concentrations of various hormones were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using MedCalc. (v.19.5.1, Ostend, Belgium). Serum AMH levels did not differ significantly among the study groups (P>0.05). Serum levels of testosterone were significantly lower, while serum FSH levels were significantly higher in the infertile groups than the control (P<0.000001). Serum LH levels were significantly higher in the NOA men (P<0.000001), while oligozoospermic men showed no significant difference, compared to control. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis depicted the same cut-off value (=1.7 ng/ml) of serum AMH for oligozoospermia and NOA with low sensitivity and moderate specificity. The findings suggest that serum AMH is not a potent stand-alone marker of NOA or oligozoospermia among Nigerian men.