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A new point mutation in the luteinising hormone receptor gene in familial and sporadic male limited precocious puberty: genotype does not always correlate with phenotype.

Genomic DNA from two families with male limited precocious puberty was examined for mutations of the LH receptor gene. In family 1, several members of the pedigree have FMPP, whereas in family 2 there is only one affected subject. A point mutation (T --> C at nucleotide 1192) resulting in substitution of threonine for methionine 398 in the second transmembrane domain of the LH receptor protein was found in both families. In addition, one member of family 1 has the mutation, but no evidence of precocious puberty. All obligate carriers within this family were shown to have the mutation, and it was not detected in 94 chromosomes from unaffected and unrelated white subjects. In family 2, the index case was the only one to have the mutation. A previously unreported neutral dimorphism (C --> T at nucleotide 1065) is also described.

Base Sequence↗

Height prognosis of children with true precocious puberty and growth hormone deficiency: effect of combination therapy with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and growth hormone.

We evaluated height prognosis and therapeutic efficacy of long-term, combination therapy with gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist and growth hormone (GH) in five children (three girls) with coexistent precocious puberty and GH deficiency. Their clinical characteristics and growth response were compared with those of 12 girls with idiopathic true precocious puberty and eight prepubertal GH-deficient children (one girl). Precocious GH-deficient subjects were older than the precocious GH-sufficient children (9.5 +/- 1.8 years vs 6.5 +/- 1.3 years; mean +/- SD), but bone ages were comparable (12 +/- 3.7 years vs 10 +/- 0.9 years); their chronologic age was similar to that of the prepubertal GH-deficient children (9.6 +/- 2.1 years), but bone age was significantly more advanced (6.9 +/- 2.3 years). The mean height velocity of the prepubertal GH-deficient children (3.8 +/- 1.5 cm/yr) was lower than that of the precocious GH-deficient subjects (6.7 +/- 1.6 cm/yr) and the precocious GH-sufficient children (9.5 +/- 2.9 cm/yr). Baseline adult height prediction z scores were significantly lower in the precocious GH-deficient children (-3.7 +/- 1.0) than in either the precocious GH-sufficient children (-2.2 +/- 1.0) or the prepubertal GH-deficient subjects (-1.5 +/- 0.8). During therapy with gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist, growth rates slowed to an average of 3.7 cm/yr in the precocious GH-deficient children but increased after the addition of GH to 7.4 cm during the first year of combination therapy. After 2 to 3 years of combination therapy, height predictions increased an average of 10 cm, compared with an increase of 2.8 cm in the precocious GH-sufficient group treated with gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist alone. We conclude that combination treatment with gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist and GH improves the height prognosis of children with coexistent true precocious puberty and GH deficiency, but falls short of achieving normal adult height potential.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗

Central precocious puberty: evaluation by neuroimaging.

To evaluate the incidence of abnormal intracranial findings in children with central precocious puberty, 62 children (51 girls, 11 boys) were examined by computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Forty-four had normal examinations; 18 (11 girls, 7 boys) showed intracranial pathologies, including hamartoma of the tuber cinereum (8 cases), parenchymal loss (3 cases), hypothalamic-chiasmatic lesions (2 cases), lesions of the corpus callosum (2 cases), suprasellar cyst (1 case), and pineal cyst and mesiotemporal sclerosis (1 case each). Based on the correlation between the clinical and the imaging results of this series, the authors recommend MRI as the imaging method of choice in the investigation of precocious puberty.

Brain Diseases↗

Suppression of gonadotropin secretion by a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (leuprolide acetate, Lupron Depot) in children with precocious puberty.

The GnRH analog leuprolide acetate has been shown to be effective in the treatment of precocious puberty when given as a daily sc injection. We studied the effectiveness of a single im dose of a new depot form of leuprolide in suppressing estradiol and gonadotropin secretion in children with precocity. Five girls with previously untreated precocity showed significant decreases in basal serum estradiol and FSH levels and in peak LH levels (after GnRH testing) 30 days after a single im dose of leuprolide acetate for depot suspension. Mean peak FSH levels also fell greatly, but the difference was not significant. No adverse effects were noted during the first 4-6 months of monthly im injections. Depot im leuprolide appears to be effective in suppressing estradiol and gonadotropin secretion, and may be a useful method of treating children with central precocious puberty.

Child↗

Idiopathic isosexual central precocious puberty: magnetic resonance findings in 30 patients.

The purpose of this prospective study was to define the incidence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in the brain in patients with idiopathic central precocious puberty without any additional neurological signs and symptoms, and to evaluate the routine use of gadolinium contrast in these patients. 30 patients (29 girls, one boy; age range 1.9-11.9 years) with idiopathic central precocious puberty were studied. MRI of the brain in axial, coronal and sagittal planes was performed before and after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine, with special attention to the region of the third ventricle. There are three major findings: (1) the height of the pituitary gland is increased up to adult size compared with normal individuals; (2) in four patients (13%) major structural abnormalities were found; three hamartomas of the tuber cinereum and one gliomatous process extending from the chiasm to the optic tract; and (3) the routine use of gadopentetate dimeglumine did not reveal new abnormalities although the lack of enhancement made a positive contribution to diagnostic certainty. We conclude that contrast enhanced MR examination is a safe and reliable method for the exclusion of abnormalities in children with precocious puberty and for the follow-up of those patients in whom abnormalities are present.

Adolescent↗

Hyperprolactinemia in girls with idiopathic precocious puberty under prolonged treatment with cyproterone acetate.

Pasma prolactin response to the acute injection of sulpiride (1.5 mg/k BW im) was measured at 0800-0900h in 4 girls with idiopathic precocious puberty before and after 6 to 11 months of continuous therapy with 50 mg daily of cyproterone acetate (CA) orally administered. Two additional girls were examined after 26 and 28 months of therapy, respectively. Mean baseline prolactin concentrations were significantly higher in untreated girls with precocious puberty as compared to that of normal controls of the same chronological age and of a comparable degree of sexual maturation (14.5 +/- 1.9 SE vs. 7.4 +/- 1.8 SE ng/ml and vs. 9.5 +/- 1.8 ng/ml, respectively; P less than .02). Treatment with CA caused a significant further increase of plasma prolactin concentration (P less than .02 as compared to pre-treatment values); no correlation was observed between prolactin concentration and duration of treatment. No significant change in the integrated areas of prlactin response to sulpiride occurred after prolonged CA therapy. The results suggest that in idiopathic precocious puberty the action of CA upon the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex is not solely antigonadotropic and that prolactin secretion is enhanced in patients given this drug.

Child↗

[Klinefelter's syndrome associated with precocious puberty due to tumoral secretion of chorionic gonadotropins].

A 8 and a half year-old boy presented with precocious puberty related to a malignant thoracic teratoma. He was also shown to have a Klinefelter syndrome. Precocious puberty related mainly to the liver, intracranial or thoracic tumors is rare. It seems to be exclusively observed in boys. The slight testicular enlargement is the main clinical sign. The contrast between high LH and low FSH levels is the most striking biological data. The diagnosis is proved by plasma HCG, beta-HCG and alpha-foetoprotein determination. Our patient is the third one with Klinefelter syndrome; this this association is certainly not fortuitous.

Child↗

Treatment of precocious puberty in the McCune-Albright syndrome with the aromatase inhibitor testolactone.

The McCune-Albright syndrome is characterized by café au lait spots, fibrous dysplasia of bones, and sexual precocity. Girls with precocious puberty due to this syndrome have episodic increases in serum estrogen levels together with the formation of large ovarian cysts. The serum gonadotropin levels are typically suppressed, and the precocious puberty has not responded to treatment with long-acting analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). Encouraged by our initial success in a pilot study of one patient, we have now treated five girls with the McCune-Albright syndrome with the aromatase inhibitor testolactone, which blocks the synthesis of estrogens. Testolactone decreased the levels of circulating estradiol (P less than 0.05) and the ovarian volume (P less than 0.05), and there was a return to pretreatment levels after testolactone was stopped. During treatment, the peak responses of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone to stimulation by LHRH rose above suppressed pretreatment levels--significantly above pretreatment levels for follicle-stimulating hormone (P less than 0.02)--and then returned to pretreatment levels after testolactone was discontinued. Growth rates fell in three patients during treatment but could not be assessed in the other two because of bone deformities. The mean rate of bone maturation decreased and menses stopped in three of the four girls who were menstruating regularly. We conclude that testolactone is an effective treatment of precocious puberty in the McCune-Albright syndrome.

Aromatase Inhibitors↗

Do all girls with apparent idiopathic precocious puberty require gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prospectively pubertal and predicted adult height progression until final height (FH) or near FH in girls with apparent idiopathic precocious puberty who were not treated. STUDY DESIGN: The decision not to treat at the time of initial evaluation was based on evidence of slowly progressive puberty as shown by bone age (BA) advancement <2 years above the chronologic age, whatever the hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis activation, or no evidence of hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis activation, whatever the BA advancement. During follow-up, patients who showed a significant decrease in predicted FH were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. RESULTS: Twenty-six girls with idiopathic precocious puberty were studied at a mean chronologic age of 7.4 +/- 0.9 years during a follow-up period of 6.6 +/- 2.2 years until FH or near FH. During the first 2 years of follow-up, most of the patients (group 1, n = 17; 65% of the cases) showed no substantial changes in predicted FH. They never required treatment, and menarche occurred at a mean chronologic age of 11.9 +/- 0.6 years. Their mean FH (or near FH) at 160.7 +/- 5.7 cm was close to their target height (161.3 +/- 4.7 cm). On the other hand, after a mean follow-up period of 1.4 +/- 0.8 years, 9 patients (group 2) had acceleration of bone maturation and deterioration of their predicted FH (from 162.1 +/- 6. 2 cm to 155.3 +/- 5.6 cm; P <.01), which was at that time significantly lower than their target height (P <.05) (mean target height = 159.8 +/- 4.6 cm). They received a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist for 2.1 +/- 0.7 years, resulting in a restoration of growth prognosis (mean FH or near FH = 160.2 +/- 6.7 cm). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that not all patients with apparent idiopathic precocious puberty require medical treatment, notably when there is no evidence of hypothalamo-pituitary ovarian activation or no significantly advanced BA to impair height potential. Most show a slowly progressing puberty. However, careful follow-up of these patients is necessary up to at least 9 years of age, because until then height prediction may deteriorate, necessitating gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in one third of the cases.

Child↗

Leptin levels in children with central precocious puberty.

Several studies have suggested that sufficient serum leptin levels may be involved in the initiation of puberty. To assess further the relationship between leptin and the onset of puberty in humans, we measured the serum leptin concentration in children with central precocious puberty (CPP). We studied 65 children with either idiopathic (IPP; n = 50 girls and 3 boys) or neurogenic central precocious puberty (NPP; n = 5 girls and 7 boys). The serum leptin levels in these patients were compared with normative data from healthy children and adolescents using SD scores that adjust for body mass index (BMI) and Tanner stage. The mean SD scores of IPP and NPP girls were +0.4 +/- 0.1 and +1.0 +/- 0.5, respectively, compared with that of age-matched prepubertal girls and +0.7 +/- 0.2 and +1.6 +/- 0.6 compared with that of girls matched for pubertal stage. The CPP girls with lower BMIs contributed larger SD scores, such that the leptin SD score was negatively correlated with BMI. A similar, modest increase in leptin levels in the CPP girls was evident when additional normative data were considered. The mean leptin SD scores of IPP and NPP boys were -0.9 +/- 0.5 and +0.7 +/- 0.3, respectively, compared with that of normal boys at Tanner stage 3-4. Serum leptin levels in the boys with CPP were not different from those in healthy boys in any of the normative studies. These data should be interpreted cautiously, but they suggest that girls with CPP have modestly elevated serum leptin concentrations compared with those in healthy children and adolescents. In addition, the negative correlation between the leptin SD score and BMI suggests that sufficient leptin levels may be associated with initiation of puberty in girls.

Body Mass Index↗

Use of combined Gn-RH agonist and hGH therapy for better attining the goals in precocious puberty treatment.

We studied 30 girls (age 6.36 +/- 1.21 years, range 4.6-8.8) affected by idiopathic precocious puberty with significant reduction of height velocity (below the 25th centile) at the end of 1 year of Gn-RHa (triptorelin intramuscular depot) treatment, to evaluate GH-IGF-I axis activity and the effects of combined Gn-RHa plus hGH therapy. After 12 months, 15 patients continued Gn-RHa and started hGH therapy for 12 months, while 15 continued treatment with Gn-RHa alone (control group). We evaluated height velocity, bone age, urinary GH, serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels throughout the study; plasma GHBP levels were determined only in the first 12 months of Gn-RHa treatment. Height velocity decreased significantly during Gn-RHa treatment; it increased significantly and became higher than the control group after 12 months of Gn-RHa plus hGH treatment. During Gn-RHa therapy alone, bone age progressed less than chronological age, while in the 12 months of Gn-RHa plus hGH treatment there was a slight nonsignificant increase in bone age progression in comparison to controls. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels decreased significantly at 12 months of Gn-RHa therapy and increased significantly after Gn-RHa plus hGH treatment. Urinary GH levels showed the same behavior. Plasma GH binding to peak II-BP, slightly lower than the prepubertal normal range before treatment, significantly increased after 12 months of Gn-RHa treatment. Therefore, in these girls, during Gn-RHa treatment alone, we have a reduction in GH-IGF-I axis activity. During Gn-RHa plus hGH therapy there was a significant increase in height velocity, in urinary GH levels, in serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. Bone age did not seem to advance faster than chronological age and this may imply a better prediction in adult height. In our opinion, only in a small percentage of patients affected by precocious puberty (with a very low predicted adult height or an important reduction of growth velocity during Gn-RHa treatment) may an association with hGH therapy be useful.

Body Height↗

[Precocious puberty, Gh deficiency and obesity can affect final height in patients with myelomeningocele: comparison of males and females].

Patients with myelomeningocele show an increased incidence of endocrinological disorders during their childhood. These disorders can ulteriorly affect the adult height of these patients who are already extremely short. In the present study we determined the final height in 21 patients (11 females aged 20.55 +/- 3.54 years; 10 males aged 20.99 +/- 2.94 years) with myelomeningocele. The endocrinological implications were investigated by clinical and laboratory assessment at control and an accurate retrospective evaluation of individual clinical history. Auxological data indicated that in male patients mean final height was significantly less (P < 0.05) than target height, but in females the difference between final height and target height was even more marked (P < 0.001). Comparison of SDS for adult height between males (-2.04 +/- 1.89) and females (-4.36 +/- 2.24) evidenced a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The analysis of endocrinological data showed that 7 females had had precocious puberty not treated; no case of precocious puberty was evidenced in males. In 4 females we observed plasmatic IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations significantly reduced either for chronological age and pubertal stage; this finding emerged in only 1 male. Plasmatic thyroid hormone and adrenal steroid concentrations resulted normal in both groups. Finally, obesity, considered as BMI > 90%, resulted present since childhood in 4 females and 2 males. Our data show that females with myelomeningocele have a statistically greater decrease of their adult stature respect to males. This difference is probably due to a more significant incidence in females of endocrinological diseases. Thus, we believe that a better statural prognosis may be joined in these patients (particularly in girls), through a careful endocrinological follow-up, performed from their births, in order to ensure a prompt identification and treatment of the cases of precocious puberty, impaired GH secretion or obesity.

Adolescent↗

Hamartoma of the tuber cinereum in a six-month-old boy, causing isosexual precocious puberty.

A case of hamartoma of the tuber cinereum causing isosexual precocious puberty in a six-month-old boy, in whom the lesion was successfully extirpated, is presented. Our patient was relatively young, since hamartomas causing sexual precocity most often occur between the ages of one and three years. Hamartomas are discussed from the clinical and pathological points of view. The mechanisms of initiating pubertas praecox in cases of cerebral tumours, particularly hamartomas, are reviewed.

Hamartoma↗

Association of morphological characteristics with precocious puberty and/or gelastic seizures in hypothalamic hamartoma.

The pathogenesis of central precocious puberty (PP) and/or gelastic seizures due to a hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is still under debate. We evaluated the association of clinical symptoms with morphology and localization of the HH in 34 patients. The majority (86.4%) of HHs in patients with isolated PP (n = 22; 68.2% females) revealed a parahypothalamic position without affecting the third ventricle (91%). Half of them were pedunculated, and 40.9% showed a diameter less than 10 mm. In contrast, 11 of 12 patients with seizures, eight of whom were male, presented with a sessile intrahypothalamic hamartoma, 10 of which distorted the third ventricle. Logistic regression analysis revealed an increased relative risk (RR) for epilepsy in males (RR, 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-19). However, combination of the risk factor gender with intrahypothalamic position (RR, 19; 1.3-285) and distortion of the third ventricle (RR, 10; 0.6-164) reduced the risk associated with male gender to 1.1. The position of a HH and involvement of the third ventricle are likely to be more predictive for clinical characteristics than size and shape. Male gender was associated with an intrahypothalamic HH and epilepsy, suggesting a sexually dimorphic developmental pattern of this heterotopic mass.

Body Height↗

Changes in growth and serum growth hormone and plasma somatomedin-C levels during suppression of gonadal sex steroid secretion in girls with central precocious puberty.

Suppression of gonadal sex steroid secretion in children with central precocious puberty (CPP) by LHRH analogs affords an opportunity to study sex steroid modulation of GH and somatomedin-C (Sm-C) secretion and to examine the role of GH and Sm-C in pubertal and prepubertal statural growth. Nocturnal serum GH and plasma Sm-C levels were measured in 10 preadrenarchal girls [mean age, 3.0 +/- 0.6] ( +/- SEM) yr with CPP before and during 2 yr of LHRH analog-induced gonadal suppression. Their mean height velocity, initially 4.6 +/- 0.6 ( +/- SEM) SD above the mean for chronological age, decreased to -0.1 +/- 0.4 SD during 12-24 months of ovarian suppression (P less than 0.00005). The mean peak nocturnal plasma GH level was 22.5 +/- 5.4 ( +/- SEM) micrograms/L during puberty, and it decreased to 10.2 +/- 2.1 micrograms/L after 3 months of suppression of gonadarche. This decrease persisted throughout the 2 yr of gonadal suppression (P less than 0.05). The reduction in GH secretion was accompanied by a decrease in mean plasma Sm-C levels from 3.5 +/- 0.7 to 1.5 +/- 0.2 U/mL after 3 months of suppression of gonadal sex steroids, which persisted during 2 yr of gonadal suppression (P less than 0.01). Suppression of ovarian function in girls with CPP results in decreased height velocity. This slowing of growth occurs in association with decreased nocturnal serum GH and plasma Sm-C levels, suggesting that acceleration of growth during puberty is partially mediated by sex steroid-induced augmentation of GH secretion.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗

Gelastic seizures, precocious puberty, and hypothalamic hamartoma.

The concurrence of gelastic (laughing) seizures and precocious puberty has been reported in 18 patients, including 2 described here. At least 10 patients had hypothalamic hamartomas. Improvements in cerebral imaging permit noninvasive diagnosis. Surgical intervention in seven of these patients was of little diagnostic or therapeutic benefit.

Female↗

Gonadotrophin-independent precocious puberty and dyschondrosteosis.

We present a case of gonadotrophin-independent precocious puberty, as seen in McCune-Albright syndrome, and Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis in a six and a half year-old girl. Her father also reports having early puberty and is similarly affected with dyschondrosteosis. This combination of features has not been reported previously, and represents the association of a skeletal dysplasia with an endocrinopathy.

Bone Diseases, Developmental↗

Effects of combined gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and growth hormone therapy on adult height in precocious puberty: a further contribution.

Out of 35 girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) (depot-triptorelin) at a dose of 100 microg/kg every 21 days i.m. for at least 2-3 years whose growth velocity fell below the 25th percentile for chronological age (CA), 17 received growth hormone (GH) in addition at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/week, s.c., 6 days per week, for 2-4 years. The other 18, matched for bone age (BA), CA and duration of GnRHa treatment, who showed the same growth pattern but refused GH treatment, remained on GnRHa alone, and were used as a control group to evaluate GH efficacy. No patient was GH deficient. Both groups discontinued treatment at a comparable BA (mean +/- SD): BA 13.4 +/- 0.6 in GnRHa plus GH group vs 13.0 +/- 0.5 years in the GnRHa alone group. The 35 patients have reached adult height (i.e. growth during the preceding year was less than 1 cm, with a BA of over 15 years). Patients of the group treated with GH plus GnRHa showed an adult height (161.2 +/- 4.8 cm) significantly higher (p < 0.001) than pre-treatment predicted adult height (PAH) calculated according to tables either for accelerated girls (153.2 +/- 5.0 cm) or for average girls (148.6 +/- 4.3 cm). The adult height of the GnRH alone treated group (156.6 +/- 5.7) was not significantly higher than pre-treatment PAH if calculated on Bayley and Pinneau tables for accelerated girls (153.9 +/- 3.8 cm), whilst it remained significantly higher if calculated on tables for average girls (149.6 +/- 4.0 cm) (p < 0.001). The gain between pre-treatment PAH and final height was 8.2 +/- 4.8 cm according to tables for accelerated girls and 12.7 +/- 4.8 cm according to tables for average girls in patients treated with GH plus GnRHa; while in patients treated with GnRH alone the gain calculated between pre-treatment PAH for accelerated girls was just 2.3 +/- 2.9 cm and 7.1 +/- 2.7 cm greater than pre-treatment PAH for average girls. The difference between the gain obtained in the two groups (about 6 cm) remained the same, however PAH was calculated. The addition of GH to GnRHa in a larger cohort of patients with CPP with a longer follow-up confirms the safety of the combined treatment and the still significant but more variable gain in the group with the combined treatment, probably due to the larger number of patients analyzed. Caution is advised in using such an invasive and expensive treatment, and there is need for further studies before widespread clinical use outside a research setting.

Body Height↗