Vol 58, No 4 (2007)
Original paper
Published online: 2007-05-17
Causes of precocious puberty in children referred for evaluation in hospital conditions
Endokrynol Pol 2007;58(4):291-296.
Abstract
Introduction: Symptoms of precocious puberty (PP) in children always arouse anxiety in their parents. Many children
with PP are being hospitalized for the detailed diagnostic work-up. The aim of our study was to analyze the frequency of
the variants of PP in children referred to our department.
Material: Retrospective analysis of 119 children (103 girls and 16 boys) referred for hospitalization in the years 2003-2005 due to signs of precocious puberty was performed.
Results: Premature thelarche, benign variant of puberty, was diagnosed in 62 (53%) girls, in the mean age of 3.39 (± 2.33) years. Their mean height was within 0.7 ± 1.1 SD. Premature pubarche was diagnosed 30 (25%) children - 22 girls and 8 boys in the mean age was 7.24 (± 0.81) years. Their mean height was 1.3 ± 1.0 SD and was significantly higher than normal (p < 0.0001). Premature menarche was diagnosed in 8 (7%) girls in the mean age 4.81 ±2.26 years. Mean height in this group was normal for age (0.9±0.8 SD). PP was diagnosed in 19 (16%) children (11 girls and 8 boys0 in the mean age 5.91 ± 1.63 years. Mean height in this group was 1.6 ± 0.7 SD, and was significantly higher than the mean for age (p<0.0005). GnRH-dependent type was present in 15 children, diagnosed as idiopathic in 9 girls and 1 boy. In 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl) pathology of central nervous system was found. In 4 children GnRH-independent precocious puberty was diagnosed - in 3 caused by congenital adrenal hyperplasia and in 1 boy by tumour of testis (leydigioma).
Conclusions: Girls with precocious thelarche without growth acceleration present the benign variant of puberty and need clinical follow up only. Boys with clinical signs of precocious puberty should be carefully evaluated to rule out the organic cause.
(Pol J Endocrinol 2007; 58 (4): 291-296)
Material: Retrospective analysis of 119 children (103 girls and 16 boys) referred for hospitalization in the years 2003-2005 due to signs of precocious puberty was performed.
Results: Premature thelarche, benign variant of puberty, was diagnosed in 62 (53%) girls, in the mean age of 3.39 (± 2.33) years. Their mean height was within 0.7 ± 1.1 SD. Premature pubarche was diagnosed 30 (25%) children - 22 girls and 8 boys in the mean age was 7.24 (± 0.81) years. Their mean height was 1.3 ± 1.0 SD and was significantly higher than normal (p < 0.0001). Premature menarche was diagnosed in 8 (7%) girls in the mean age 4.81 ±2.26 years. Mean height in this group was normal for age (0.9±0.8 SD). PP was diagnosed in 19 (16%) children (11 girls and 8 boys0 in the mean age 5.91 ± 1.63 years. Mean height in this group was 1.6 ± 0.7 SD, and was significantly higher than the mean for age (p<0.0005). GnRH-dependent type was present in 15 children, diagnosed as idiopathic in 9 girls and 1 boy. In 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl) pathology of central nervous system was found. In 4 children GnRH-independent precocious puberty was diagnosed - in 3 caused by congenital adrenal hyperplasia and in 1 boy by tumour of testis (leydigioma).
Conclusions: Girls with precocious thelarche without growth acceleration present the benign variant of puberty and need clinical follow up only. Boys with clinical signs of precocious puberty should be carefully evaluated to rule out the organic cause.
(Pol J Endocrinol 2007; 58 (4): 291-296)
Keywords: precocious pubertybenign variantsgrowth velocity
