Mohan Bangah

Elevated Serum Inhibin Concentrations in Postmenopausal Women with Ovarian Tumors

Background Inhibin is an ovarian hormone that inhibits the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the anterior pituitary gland. Women with granulosa-cell tumors of the ovary have elevated serum inhibin concentrations, but whether the concentrations are increased in women with other ovarian tumors is unknown. Methods We measured serum inhibin and FSH concentrations before surgery in 212 postmenopausal women with suspected ovarian cancer and after surgery in 210 of them. Results Eighteen of the 22 women (82 percent) with mucinous carcinomas (mucinous cystadenocarcinomas and mucinous borderline cystic tumors) of the ovary had elevated serum inhibin concentrations, whereas only 9 of the 53 women (17 percent) with serous carcinomas (serous cystadenocarcinomas and serous borderline cystic tumors) had elevated levels. Serum inhibin concentrations were also elevated in 2 of 12 women (17 percent) with clear-cell carcinomas, 4 of 26 women (15 percent) with undifferentiated carcinomas, 3 of 3 women (100 ...

Perimenopausal patterns of gonadotrophins, immunoreactive inhibin, oestradiol and progesterone

In order to assess the possible role of circulating immunoreactive inhibin (INH) during the menopausal transition, two groups of subjects were studied. Four were normal volunteers, three of whom had developed their first symptoms of cycle irregularity at age 45-46 years, the fourth being aged 37, a volunteer for a study involving daily blood sampling found to have a transient rise in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Six were patients with anovulatory infertility, aged 34-44 years, found to have transitory ovarian failure during attempts at ovulation induction. Intermittent blood samples were obtained for radioimmunoassay of serum FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), INH, oestradiol (E2), and progesterone. Abrupt changes were observed, with transient elevations of FSH and LH and decreases of INH and E2 into the postmenopausal range, followed by levels more characteristic of reproductive-aged women. It was concluded that typical postmenopausal hormone patterns may occur at the time of entry into the normal menopausal transition, and in some women with anovulatory infertility, but may be completely and relatively abruptly reversible. Elevation of serum FSH into the postmenopausal range, with undetectable INH concentrations, does not provide reliable evidence that the menopause (or permanent ovarian failure) has occurred. INH contributes to elevations of serum FSH during the menopausal transition.

Circulating immunoreactive inhibin and testosterone levels in men with critical illness

objective We aimed to concurrently characterize serial changes in circulating immunoreactive inhibin (IrlNH) and testosterone (T) as reflections of Sertoli and Leydig cell responses to acute critical illness in man

Inhibin and age in men

Summary. objective Normal elderly men are reported to have decreased testicular function despite elevated gonadotrophin levels. We wished therefore to determine If changes in testicular function occur over the age range 19–80 years.

CIRCULATING LEVELS OF INHIBIN IN PREGNANT WOMEN AT TERM : SIMULTANEOUS DISAPPEARANCE WITH OESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE AFTER DELIVERY

Circulating levels of immunoreactive inhibin (ir‐inhibin) and its disappearance after delivery of the placenta were determined in seven pregnant women at term. Serum cestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels were measured simultaneously and served as comparisons. Fetal contributions of ir‐inhibin were asessed by determining concentrations in the umbilical artery (UA) and vein (UV). Relative changes in circulating levels of ir‐inhibin, E2, and P4 were compared to levels found in nonpregnant women during the early follicular phase (EFP) and mid‐luteal phase (MLP) of the normal menstrual cycle. In pregnant women, ir‐inhibin levels at delivery were 15‐ and 3‐fold higher than EFP and MLP values respectively. The disappearance of all three hormones after removal of the placenta followed a bi‐exponential curve with an initial, rapid component and a second, slower component. There was a highly signifiant positive correlation between the disappearance curves of all three placental hormones (r = 0–97, P > 013001). Concentrations of ir‐inhibin in the cord blood were about half that in maternal serum and without significant difference between levels in UA and UV.

INHIBIN AS A MARKER FOR GRANULOSA-CELL TUMOR

In order to determine whether serum‐immunoreactive inhibin could constitute a biochemical marker for the presence and progression of ovarian granulosa cell tumors and their metastases, we measured immunoreactive inhibin concentrations in series of serum samples obtained from 8 patients with granulosa cell tumor. Six series were tested in retrospect. From these, three came from patients who had been treated with an abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy. In the 2 patients with residual or recurrent disease, inhibin was elevated, 4 and 20 months respectively before clinical manifestations of recurrence became evident; it reflected the effects of secondary therapy. Inhibin remained undetectable in one patient who was free of disease during 11 years of follow‐up. Inhibin concentrations were also inappropriately increased in 2 of 3 women with amenorrhea and infertility resulting from small granulosa cell tumors. After removal, inhibin concentrations became normal and fertility resumed. Fertility also returned in the third patient. There was a significant negative correlation between the serum inhibin and FSH concentrations, consistent with autonomous production of inhibin by granulosa cell tumors. It is concluded that granulosa cell tumors have the capacity to produce inhibin. In retrospect, inhibin proved to be a marker for both primary and also recurrent and residual disease.

Serum inhibin during lactation: relation to the gonadotrophins and gonadal steroids

OBJECTIVE The aims of the study were to describe the changes in serum immunoreactive inhibin (INH) during normal lactation and to examine the relations between INH, oestradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), particularly during the first weeks post partum.

Inhibin as a marker for granulosa-cell tumors

In order to determine whether serum-immunoreactive inhibin could constitute a biochemical marker for the presence and progression of ovarian granulosa cell tumors and their metastases, we measured immunoreactive inhibin concentrations in series of serum samples obtained from 8 patients with granulosa cell tumor. Six series were tested in retrospect. From these, three came from patients who had been treated with an abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In the 2 patients with residual or recurrent disease, inhibin was elevated, 4 and 20 months respectively before clinical manifestations of recurrence became evident; it reflected the effects of secondary therapy. Inhibin remained undetectable in one patient who was free of disease during 11 years of follow-up. Inhibin concentrations were also inappropriately increased in 2 of 3 women with amenorrhea and infertility resulting from small granulosa cell tumors. After removal, inhibin concentrations became normal and fertility resumed. Fertility also returned in the third patient. There was a significant negative correlation between the serum inhibin and FSH concentrations, consistent with autonomous production of inhibin by granulosa cell tumors. It is concluded that granulosa cell tumors have the capacity to produce inhibin. In retrospect, inhibin proved to be a marker for both primary and also recurrent and residual disease.

Effects of FSH on serum immunoreactive inhibin levels in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle

OBJECTIVE FSHcauses a dose‐related increase in circulating immunoreactive inhibin (INH) in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, while LH is the major stimulus to INH secretion by the corpus luteum. The present study was undertaken to assess whether FSH can also stimulate INH production during the luteal phase.

Elevated Serum Inhibin Concentrations in Postmenopausal Women With Ovarian Tumors

BACKGROUND Inhibin is an ovarian hormone that inhibits the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the anterior pituitary gland. Women with granulosa-cell tumors of the ovary have elevated serum inhibin concentrations, but whether the concentrations are increased in women with other ovarian tumors is unknown. METHODS We measured serum inhibin and FSH concentrations before surgery in 212 postmenopausal women with suspected ovarian cancer and after surgery in 210 of them. RESULTS Eighteen of the 22 women (82 percent) with mucinous carcinomas (mucinous cystadenocarcinomas and mucinous borderline cystic tumors) of the ovary had elevated serum inhibin concentrations, whereas only 9 of the 53 women (17 percent) with serous carcinomas (serous cystadenocarcinomas and serous borderline cystic tumors) had elevated levels. Serum inhibin concentrations were also elevated in 2 of 12 women (17 percent) with clear-cell carcinomas, 4 of 26 women (15 percent) with undifferentiated carcinomas, 3 of 3 women (100 percent) with granulosa-cell tumors, and 5 of 27 women (19 percent) with other ovarian cancers. The serum concentrations of inhibin were increased in 2 of 28 women (7 percent) with nonovarian pelvic cancers and 11 of 41 women (27 percent) with benign ovarian diseases. All women but one with initially elevated serum inhibin concentrations had low values one week after surgery. Serum inhibin concentrations correlated negatively with serum FSH concentrations (P = 0.05) in women with granulosa-cell tumors but not in women with other tumors, suggesting that the inhibin secreted by tumors in the latter group has decreased biologic activity. CONCLUSIONS Serum inhibin concentrations are elevated in most postmenopausal women with mucinous carcinomas of the ovary and in some women with other types of epithelial ovarian tumors. The concentrations fall after tumor removal.