Age-specific reference intervals for anti-Müllerian hormone in Chinese boys: A population-based study

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is used for evaluating gonadal development and testicular function. We aimed to establish AMH reference intervals and to determine the correlations between AMH level and age, body mass index (BMI), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and total testosterone (TT) levels in healthy Chinese boys.

Serum AMH levels of 2,009 healthy boys (age, 0-14 years), recruited between October 2017 and April 2019, were determined using the Beckman Access 2 automated chemiluminescence immunoassay. Single-year-specific median, mean, and standard deviation (SD) of AMH and effects of age, BMI, FSH, LH, and TT on the AMH level were analyzed.

The median and mean ± SD values of AMH increased slightly after birth. Serum AMH values decreased sharply at 2 years of age and were 6-7% of the birth level at 12 years, after which they remained low. Age-specific AMH reference intervals were established. Significant negative correlations were observed between AMH level and age (r = -0.75, P < 0.001); serum AMH levels were moderately negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.35, P < 0.001), FSH (r = -0.37, P < 0.001), and TT (r = -0.45, P < 0.001) levels; and correlation with LH (r = -0.18, P < 0.001) was the weakest. In contrast, correlations between AMH and the LH/FSH ratio were not observed.

We established single-year-specific reference intervals for AMH in Chinese boys. Our findings revealed the changes in AMH secretion during normal male growth, and may provide a basis for the clinical use of AMH.