Abstract

We aimed to determine whether precocious adrenarche (PA) has a different impact on screening tests for metabolic issues and pubertal timing in boys and girls born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Puberty and initial metabolic screening results of 47 girls and 23 boys with PA born AGA followed up from our outpatient endocrinology clinic between May 2000 and October 2009 were reviewed. Initial anthropometric measurements except for body mass index standard deviation score (SDS) being higher in boys than girls (p = 0.01), bone age (BA) SDS, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and plasma lipids were similar between sexes. Hormone levels except for significantly higher dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in boys than girls (p = 0.0006) were also similar between the sexes. BA SDS and BA/chronological age were significantly advanced (p < 0.05) with respect to initial evaluation in 28 girls at onset of gonadarche unlike the case in 13 boys with PA (p > 0.05). In conclusions, PA in children born AGA does not herald any significant differences with respect to adverse metabolic screening results between sexes, and it appears to be a discrete process from onset of puberty in girls unlike boys, in whom it is likely a variant of normal puberty.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Uçar A, Saka N, Baş F, Bundak R, Günöz H, Darendeliler F

Institution

Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey. aucar76@yahoo.com

Source

European journal of pediatrics 171:11 2012 Nov pg 1661-6

MeSH

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone
Adrenarche
Androstenedione
Biological Markers
Birth Weight
Blood Glucose
Body Mass Index
Bone Development
Child
Child, Preschool
Cholesterol, HDL
Cohort Studies
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Insulin
Male
Puberty
Puberty, Precocious
Sex Factors
Triglycerides

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22810980