Polymalformative syndromes and puberty.

Abstract

Polymalformative syndromes may involve an alteration of the two pubertal components: sexual maturation and pubertal growth spurt. An absence of pubertal development, generally without changing of final height, or an advance of puberty, with reduction of adult height are possible in some syndromes. Moreover, a normal pubertal evolution, with lack of pubertal growth spurt, is the result in bone growth anomalies. Puberty increases bone strength, in some conditions in which it is reduced, and finally this period of rapid growth may cause an alteration of structure and bone segments. A series of examples on correlations between polymalformative syndromes and puberty is presented.