Pubarquia precoz: Experience in 173 cases

• Francisca C Eyzaguirre ; Rodrigo Bancalari ^[1] ; Ronald Youlton ^[2] ; Rossana Román ^[3] ; Ricardo Silva ^[4] ; Hernán García ^[4] ; Verónica Mericq ^[3]
  1. [1] Universidad de Los Andes

     Universidad de Los Andes

     Colombia

     
  2. [2] Clínica Las Condes

     Clínica Las Condes

     Santiago, Chile

     
  3. [3] Universidad de Chile

     Universidad de Chile

     Santiago, Chile

     
  4. [4] Clinica Santa Maria

     Clinica Santa Maria

     Santiago, Chile

     

  Mostrar afiliaciones +
• Localización: Revista Médica de Chile, ISSN-e 0034-9887, Vol. 137, Nº. 1, 2009, págs. 31-38
• Idioma: español
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Precocious pubarche
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Background: Precocious pubarche (PP), defined as the development of sexual pubic hair before 8 years of age in females and before 9 years in males, is usually a benign condition but it can also be the first sign of an underlying disease. Aim: To analyze the etiology and perform a short term follow up in a cohort ofpatients with PP. Material and methods: A group of 173patients (158 females) consulted for PP with a mean age of 7.4+0.1 years. These patients were followed between 15 to 60 months. Anthropometric measurements, bone age, serum levels of total testosterone, 17 OH progesterone (17 OHP) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were evaluated. Results: Mean birth weight and length was 3024.1+50.5 g and 48.5+0.3 cm, respectively. Ten percent of children were small for gestational age at birth. Bone age was accelerated by 1.1+0.01 years. One hundred and twelve patients were classified as having idiopathic PP (64.7%; 105 females), 29 as central precocious puberty (16.8%; only females), 16 as exaggerated adrenarche (EA 9.2%; 13 females) and 16 as non classical adrenal hyperplasia (9.2%; 11 females). Conclusions: PP represents a common and usually benign sign. However, 26% of cases had a pathologic underlying condition. Therefore, all children with PP should be evaluated by a pediatric endocrinologist. Low birth weight was not frequent in this cohort and these patients did not show EA .