Author/Authors :
Homaei, Ali Student Research Committee - School of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Golmohammadi, Roghayeh Qods Hospital - Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran , Saffari, Fatemeh Department of Pediatrics - School of Medicine, Children Growth Research Center - Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases - Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin
Abstract :
Background: Puberty is an essential milestone in a person’s life. Studies show that precocious
puberty is more common in girls than in boys.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to survey the causes of precocious puberty in children
referred to the endocrine clinic in Qazvin city, Iran, from 2006 to 2018.
Methods: This case-series study was performed from March 2006 to June 2018 on patients
referred to the endocrine clinic of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin City, Iran, for
precocious puberty. To diagnose premature puberty and find its causes, we surveyed sex steroids
levels, thyroid function, and, if necessary, performed GnRH test. The patients’ height and
weight were measured, and their BMIs (Body Mass Index) were calculated. Uterine ultrasound
was performed for all girls. Additionally, brain MRI was performed for all boys and girls under
age 6 with precocious puberty. X-ray of the left hand was performed to assess skeletal growth
acceleration.
Based on the type of puberty, the patients were divided into three groups: Central Precocious
Puberty (CPP), Peripheral Precocious Puberty (PPP), and normal variant of puberty. The study
data were collected from patients› electronic files and analyzed using SPSS 23.
Results: Out of 724 cases, 642 (88.70%) were girls. The mean age of all children was 7.07
(95%CI: 6.99-7.15) years. About 70.5% of cases had CPP, 5% PPP, and 24.5% normal variant
of puberty. Cases of Idiopathic Precocious Puberty (IPP), PPP, Neurogenic Central Precocious
Puberty (NCPP), and premature pubarche were significantly higher in girls than boys (P<0.001).
None of the boys had NCPP. Most girls had normal BMI, but boys were more obese. Mean bone
age and bone age/age ratio were higher in girls with NCPP (P<0.001).
Conclusions: In our study, most girls and boys had idiopathic precocious puberty, and none of
the boys had brain lesions. About half of the cases were overweight or obese, indicating the role
of obesity in increasing bone age and the onset of puberty.
Keywords :
Precocious puberty , Girls , Boys , Idiopathic
