Clinical and endocrine characteristics
| . | Amenorrhea (primary or secondary) . | Normal cycle . | P . |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. (%) of patients | 17 (65) | 9 (35) | — |
| Age, y | 29 ± 5.7 | 27 ± 8 | NS |
| Mean age of secondary amenorrhea, y | 19.2 ± 3 | — | — |
| Years receiving transfusions | 28 ± 6 | 20 ± 6 | .005 |
| LIC, mg Fe/g dry | 13 ± 10 | 17 ± 13 | NS |
| NTBI, μM | 3.7 ± 1.6 | 5.3 ± 3 | NS |
| LH, mIU/mL | 2.7 ± 2.4 | 8 ± 6 | .003 |
| FSH, mIU/mL | 2.2 ± 2.7 | 7.3 ± 9 | .05 |
| E2, pg/mL | 17 ± 22 | 63 ± 60 | .009 |
| Inhibin B, pg/mL | < 10 | 35 ± 15 | .0001 |
| AMH | 15 ± 7.1 | 20.7 ± 14 | NS |
| AFC* | 7.5 ± 5 | 7 ± 1 | NS |
| Mean ovarian volume, cm3* | 1.3 ± 1.4 | 1.3 ± 1 | NS |
| Successful pregnancies | 1 in 1 woman | 5 in 2 women | — |
| Additional endocrinopathies† | 10 (59%) | 2 (22%) | NS |
| Diabetes | 7 | 1 | — |
| Hypothyroidism | 3 | 1 | — |
| Hypoparathyroidism | 0 | 0 | — |
| Cardiac T2* MRI, ms | 16.3 ± 8 (n = 14) | 24.4 ± 10 (n = 8) | .05 |
| . | Amenorrhea (primary or secondary) . | Normal cycle . | P . |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. (%) of patients | 17 (65) | 9 (35) | — |
| Age, y | 29 ± 5.7 | 27 ± 8 | NS |
| Mean age of secondary amenorrhea, y | 19.2 ± 3 | — | — |
| Years receiving transfusions | 28 ± 6 | 20 ± 6 | .005 |
| LIC, mg Fe/g dry | 13 ± 10 | 17 ± 13 | NS |
| NTBI, μM | 3.7 ± 1.6 | 5.3 ± 3 | NS |
| LH, mIU/mL | 2.7 ± 2.4 | 8 ± 6 | .003 |
| FSH, mIU/mL | 2.2 ± 2.7 | 7.3 ± 9 | .05 |
| E2, pg/mL | 17 ± 22 | 63 ± 60 | .009 |
| Inhibin B, pg/mL | < 10 | 35 ± 15 | .0001 |
| AMH | 15 ± 7.1 | 20.7 ± 14 | NS |
| AFC* | 7.5 ± 5 | 7 ± 1 | NS |
| Mean ovarian volume, cm3* | 1.3 ± 1.4 | 1.3 ± 1 | NS |
| Successful pregnancies | 1 in 1 woman | 5 in 2 women | — |
| Additional endocrinopathies† | 10 (59%) | 2 (22%) | NS |
| Diabetes | 7 | 1 | — |
| Hypothyroidism | 3 | 1 | — |
| Hypoparathyroidism | 0 | 0 | — |
| Cardiac T2* MRI, ms | 16.3 ± 8 (n = 14) | 24.4 ± 10 (n = 8) | .05 |
Patients' baseline findings are shown based on the presence or absence of amenorrhea. Hormonal replacement therapy was discontinued for 1 month before obtaining all reproductive measures. Iron chelation was halted until after obtaining NTBI and LPI levels. A factor of 6.0 was applied to convert in vivo LIC (wet weight) into dry weight, comparable to paraffin-embedded biopsies, expressed in mg/g dry weight. Average LIC and results of the measure closest to the time of fertility evaluation were used for analysis. Average previously obtained LIC of entire the group (3.7 ± 2/patient) was 14.5 ± 11 mg/g dry weight.
— indicates not applicable; E2, estradiol; OV, ovarian volume; and NS, not significant.
Follicles with a mean diameter (of 2 dimensions) between 2 and 10 mm were counted. The volume of each ovary was calculated by applying the formula for an ellipsoid: (length × height × width × π/6), the average of both ovaries was then applied.
Other endocrinopathies were noted in 10 women, who had amenorrhea. All 5 patients older than 30 years who had markers of ovarian dysfunction were included in this subgroup.