Peripheral vein, ovarian vein and ovarian tissue levels of inhibin in a postmenopausal patient with a granulosa cell tumour.

Abstract

In a patient with a granulosa cell tumour, stage 1a1, peripheral and ovarian vein blood samples were drawn before, during and after bilateral oophorectomy. Before operation inhibin and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were in the premenopausal range, whereas the peripheral level of oestradiol and luteinizing hormone were in the normal postmenopausal range. In the ovarian vein at the side of the tumour, inhibin and oestradiol levels were elevated, whereas in the contralateral ovarian vein the concentrations of inhibin and oestradiol were in the same range as in the peripheral vein. Immunoreactive inhibin levels in the homogenized tumour were 23 times higher than in the contralateral ovary, whereas inhibin bioactivities in the same samples amounted to 126 and 14 U/mg protein, respectively. After removal of the tumour, peripheral serum follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibin levels were in the normal postmenopausal range again. We conclude that inhibin can have a role as a marker for granulosa cell tumours.