Clinical review 46: Clinical utility of inhibin measurements

Abstract

New and specific assays, probably based on two-site assay technology, for various forms of circulating gonadal peptides are likely to be available within the next few years and these in turn should open up a range of potential clinical applications, particularly in andrology, management of ovulatory disorders, and especially ovarian and perhaps other malignancies. Current inhibin assays are already proving to be of great value in ovarian cancer management. The recent demonstration that inhibin subunits and dimeric activin are present in the human adrenal also raises the possibility that measurement of inhibin and activin may ultimately be applicable to the study of adrenal disorders.