Utility of Basal luteinizing hormone levels for detecting central precocious puberty in girls

Diagnostic Value of Single LH and LH/FSH Ratio at 60-minute after GnRHa Stimulation Test for Central Precocious Puberty

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the diagnostic value of luteinizing hormone (LH) and LH/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio at 60 min after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) stimulation test for central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.

METHODS

Two hundred and fifty-seven girls, aged 3 to 7.5 y, suspected of precocious puberty at authors' hospital from April 2020 through November 2023 were enrolled in the study. The blood was taken at 0, 30, 60 min after GnRHa stimulation test, and LH and LH/FSH were detected by chemiluminescence assay. The diagnostic efficacy was analysed by Mann-Whitney U test, spearman's correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The proportion of obesity was analysed by Chi-square test.

RESULTS

LH and LH/FSH at different times were statistically significantly different (P <0.05) between the CPP and non-CPP groups. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the level of LH and LH/FSH at 60 min had the strongest consistency with the peak of LH (r = 0.9988, P <0.001) and LH/FSH (r = 0.9981, P <0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curves at 60 min of LH and LH/FSH were 0.975 and 0.997 with a cut-off value of 5.70 IU/L and 0.609, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The peak of LH and LH/FSH in the diagnosis of CPP can be determined by LH and LH/FSH at 60 min after the triptorelin acetate is injected. This will reduce the number of blood draws required compared with the traditional stimulation test, which is more effective and acceptable for children.

Screening for central precocious puberty by single basal Luteinizing Hormone levels

PURPOSE

To identify cut-off for basal LH levels and for pelvic ultrasound uterine and ovarian parameters indicating an Hypotalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis activation as diagnostic of Central Precocious Puberty (CPP).

METHODS

248 girls referred for suspected precocious/early puberty who had undergone a GnRH stimulation test were enrolled and divided into three groups: Premature Idiopathic Thelarche (PIT), CPP, and Early Puberty (EA). For every patient basal serum Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), basal LH/FSH ratio and pelvic ultrasonographic parameters were also collected. Through the use of Receiver Operating Curves (ROCs) the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of basal LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio and ultrasonographic parameters were evaluated at each level and Area Under the Curve (AUC) was measured.

RESULTS

Basal LH model ≥0.14 mIU/mL reached the highest predictability (90.6% and 78.2%, Se and Sp, respectively). Basal LH/FSH ratio ≥0.1 showed a sensitivity of 85.90% and a specificity of 78.14%, while basal FSH cut-off (≥2.36 mIU/mL) had the lowest predictability, with a less favourable sensitivity (71%) and specificity (70.5%). Cut-off point for uterine length as 35 mm, (83.5% and 42.9% of Se and Sp, respectively) was calculated. For ovarian volumes, ROC curves showed very low sensitivity and specificity.

CONCLUSION

A single basal LH measurement under the cut-off limit may be adequate to exclude an HPG axis activation as CPP.

Basal gonadotropin levels combine with pelvic ultrasound and pituitary volume: a machine learning diagnostic model of idiopathic central precocious puberty

OBJECTIVE

The current diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) relies on the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) stimulation test, which requires multiple invasive blood sampling procedures. The aim of this study was to construct machine learning models incorporating basal pubertal hormone levels, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pelvic ultrasound parameters to predict the response of precocious girls to GnRHa stimulation test.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 455 girls diagnosed with precocious puberty who underwent transabdominal pelvic ultrasound, brain MRI examinations and GnRHa stimulation testing were retrospectively reviewed. They were randomly assigned to the training or internal validation set in an 8:2 ratio. Four machine learning classifiers were developed to identify girls with CPP, including logistic regression, random forest, light gradient boosting (LightGBM), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC) and F1 score of the models were measured.

RESULTS

The participates were divided into an idiopathic CPP group (n = 263) and a non-CPP group (n = 192). All machine learning classifiers used achieved good performance in distinguishing CPP group and non-CPP group, with the area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.72 to 0.81 in validation set. XGBoost had the highest diagnostic efficacy, with sensitivity of 0.81, specificity of 0.72, and F1 score of 0.80. Basal pubertal hormone levels (including luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol), averaged ovarian volume, and several uterine parameters were predictors in the model.

CONCLUSION

The machine learning prediction model we developed has good efficacy for predicting response to GnRHa stimulation tests which could help in the diagnosis of CPP.

2022 Clinical practice guidelines for central precocious puberty of Korean children and adolescents

The Committee of Central Precocious Puberty of Korean Pediatrics and Adolescents of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology has newly developed evidence-based 2022 clinical practice guidelines for central precocious puberty in Korean children and adolescents. These guidelines provide the grade of recommendations, which includes both the strength of recommendations and the level of evidence. In the absence of sufficient evidence, recommendations are based on expert opinion. These guidelines have been revised and supplement the previous guidelines "Clinical Guidelines for Precocious Puberty 2011," and are drawn from a comprehensive review of the latest domestic and international research and the grade of recommendation appropriate to the domestic situation. This review summarizes the newly revised guidelines into 8 key questions and 27 recommendations and consists of 4 sections: screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcome of central precocious puberty.

Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings in the Differential Diagnosis of Central Precocious Puberty and Premature Thelarche

Aim

In this study, it was aimed to examine the clinical and laboratory findings that can be used to predict central precocious puberty (CPP) in cases whose breast development started before the age of 8.

Materials and Methods

The chronological age, anthropometric measurements, bone age (BA), hormone test results and pelvic ultrasonography findings of the cases were recorded. Those with a peak luteinizing hormone (LH) level of ≥5 IU/L in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test were classified as CPP and those with a peak LH level of <5 IU/L were classified as prepubertal cases. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory variables.

Findings

A total of 297 female cases were included in the study. The age at the time of admission, height-standard deviation score (SDS), BA, the long axis of the uterus and the volumes of the right and left ovaries of the cases diagnosed with CPP were found to be significantly higher than those of the prepubertal group. The cut-off value providing the best sensitivity (99%) and specificity (99%) for the peak LH was found to be 4.55; the cut-off value providing the best sensitivity (94%) and specificity (85%) for the peak LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio was found to be 0.32 and the cut-off value providing the best sensitivity (47%) and specificity (93%) for the basal LH was found to be 0.13.

Conclusion

We believe that in female cases with early breast development, a peak LH level of ≥4.55 may possibly indicate CPP and a basal LH level of <0.13 can significantly rule out CPP.

Machine Learning Approach for Prediction of the Test Results of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Stimulation: Model Building and Implementation

Precocious puberty in girls is defined as the onset of pubertal changes before 8 years of age, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment is available for central precocious puberty (CPP). The gold standard for diagnosing CPP is the GnRH stimulation test. However, the GnRH stimulation test is time-consuming, costly, and requires repeated blood sampling. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) prediction model to assist pediatric endocrinologists in decision making regarding the optimal timing to perform the GnRH stimulation test. We reviewed the medical charts of 161 girls who received the GnRH stimulation test from 1 August 2010 to 31 August 2021, and we selected 15 clinically relevant features for machine learning modeling. We chose the models with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to integrate into our computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system. The AUC values for the CPP diagnosis prediction model (LH ≥ 5 IU/L) were 0.884 with logistic regression, 0.912 with random forest, 0.942 with LightGBM, and 0.942 with XGBoost. For the Taiwan National Health Insurance treatment coverage prediction model (LH ≥ 10 IU/L), the AUC values were 0.909, 0.941, 0.934, and 0.881, respectively. In conclusion, our AI predictive system can assist pediatric endocrinologists when they are deciding whether a girl with suspected CPP should receive a GnRH stimulation test. With proper use, this prediction model may possibly avoid unnecessary invasive blood sampling for GnRH stimulation tests.

Associations between body mass index and pubertal development based on the outcomes of girls with early breast development

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations between physical and pubertal development based on the breast development outcomes in girls.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. A total of 452 girls aged 6~8 years were included. Based on their breast development outcomes, the patients were divided into an idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) group and a premature thelarche (PT) group. Anthropometry included measurements of height, weight, and BMI. ICPP was diagnosed when five diagnostic criteria from the current guidelines were met.

RESULTS

The girls with breast development at initial evaluation had a median age of 6.9 years. In total, 31.4% of patients were diagnosed with ICPP, and ICPP was rare in girls <7 years old (19%). Patients who presented with recurrence of breast development in the PT group accounted for 38.4%. At initial evaluation, the height, weight, BMI and bone age (BA) of the girls in the PT group corresponded to those of a normally developing girl at ages 7.8 years, 8.2 years, 8.6 years and 7.6 years, respectively. The girls in the ICPP group had a mean age of 7.3 years, and their mean height, weight, and BMI were 129.6 cm, 28.4 kg, and 17.0 kg/m², which corresponded to the mean of a normally developing girl at ages 8.5 years, 9.1 years, and 10.5 years, respectively; these patients had BA of 9.2 years. Additionally, based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, when the basal luteinizing hormone (LH) level was 0.32 IU/L and BMI reached 16.4 kg/m², CPP was diagnosed in patients meeting all five diagnostic criteria for CPP, and the specificity and sensitivity were 71.9% and 88.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Girls with breast development before 8 years old had a high proportion of recurrence of breast development. The physical development of these girls at the time of breast development preceded that of normally developing girls by 1-2 years. BMI is an independent risk factor for early pubertal development, and is a simple and clear predictor of ICPP. In addition to the five classic diagnostic criteria, CPP is diagnosed when physical development corresponds to the mean for a 10.5 years old girl.

Interpretation of reproductive hormones before, during and after the pubertal transition-Identifying health and disordered puberty

Puberty is a process of transition from childhood to adult reproductive capacity, governed by the reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis after a long period of dormancy in mid-childhood. As such, the reproductive hormones are in a state of flux during the adolescent years, and interpretation of both the onset of healthy, concordant puberty and the differentiation of precocious, delayed or disordered puberty, can be challenging. This review is focused on the description of the endocrine axes in healthy puberty and the markers of disorders of puberty that can aid diagnosis and management for patients with these conditions. It will cover the hypothalamic, pituitary and gonadal hormone systems, the dynamic changes that occur during puberty, conditions leading to precocious, delayed or absent puberty and other syndromes with disordered puberty, and the biochemical diagnosis of these different disorders of puberty.

Central Precocious Puberty in Boys and Girls: Similarities and Differences

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is due to the premature activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, which is responsible for the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. It occurs before the age of 8 and 9 in girls and boys, respectively. CPP shows higher incidence in females than in males. Causes of CPP are similar in both sexes, but the idiopathic form is more frequent in girls, while organic forms are more frequent in males. Recent studies demonstrated a role of some genetic variants in the pathogenesis of CPP. The diagnostic evaluation based on accurate physical examination, assessment of the pituitary–gonadal axis, pelvic sonography in girls, and determination of bone age. Magnetic resonance of the central nervous system should be done in all boys and selected girls. Since the 1980s, pharmacologic treatment involves the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs. These drugs are characterized by few side effects and long-term safety. Many data are available on the outcome of GnRH analog treated female patients, while poor data are reported in boys. Adult height is improved in both sexes.

Diagnostic evaluation of central precocious puberty in girls

BACKGROUND

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard for confirming the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in central precocious puberty (CPP). However, it is time-consuming and costly. Our aim was to search for a simpler diagnostic modality for CPP by 1) evaluating the performance of basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH), 2) constructing a practical scoring system, and 3) determining the optimal single sampling time for serum LH in the GnRH stimulation test.

METHODS

Data of girls aged between 3 and 9 years at the time of the GnRH stimulation test, who attended our endocrine clinic at the MacKay Children's Hospital for signs of puberty between July 2014 and June 2019, were analyzed retrospectively. We recorded patients' age, height, weight, breast Tanner stage (BS), bone age, serum LH, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the Youden index were used to obtain the optimal basal serum LH level. Binary logistic regression was employed to construct a practical scoring system. Cross-sectional, cumulative frequency, and ROC curves were used to simplify the GnRH stimulation test.

RESULTS

Overall, 381 sets of GnRH stimulation tests were performed in 313 patients. Basal serum LH ≥ 0.2 IU/L demonstrated 70% sensitivity and 70% specificity for predicting positive GnRH stimulation test results. The practical scoring system (3 × BS + 3 × LH + 4 × FSH) showed 76% sensitivity and 72% specificity. The serum LH level at 30 min after intravenous gonadorelin exhibited 99% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Single sampling of serum LH at 30th minute post-injection of GnRH demonstrated a diagnostic performance equivalent to the traditional GnRH stimulation test in diagnosing CPP. Therefore, this approach could become the simplest diagnostic modality.

Clinical data and basal gonadotropins in the diagnosis of central precocious puberty in girls

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to analyze whether some auxological characteristics or a single basal gonadotropin measurement will be sufficient to distinguish the prepubertal from pubertal status.

METHODS

Auxologycal characteristics were recorded and serum LH and FSH were measured by immunochemiluminescence assays before and after GnRH stimulation test in a sample of 241 Caucasian girls with breast budding between 6- and 8-years old. Peak LH levels higher than 5 IU/L were considered a pubertal response. Area under the curve, cut-off points, sensitivity, and specificity for auxologycal variables and basal gonadotropins levels were determined by receiver operating curves.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age at onset, weight, height, BMI and height velocity between both groups. Bone age was significantly higher in pubertal girls (P < 0.05), although with limited discriminatory capacity. The sensitivity and specificity for the basal LH levels were 89 and 82%, respectively, for a cut off point of 0.1 IU/L. All girls in the pubertal group had a basal LH higher than 1.0 IU/L (positive predictive value of 100%). There was a wide overlap of basal FSH and LH/FSH ratio between prepubertal and pubertal girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Auxologycal characteristics should not be used only in the differential diagnosis between prepubertal from pubertal status in 6- to 8-year-old girls. We found a high specificity of a single basal LH sample and it would be useful for establishing the diagnosis of puberty in this age group, reducing the need for GnRH stimulation testing.

Sensitivity and specificity of using pelvic ultrasonographic parameters combined with basal gonadotropin levels to diagnose central precocious puberty in Thai girls

Background

The criterion standard gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation tests to diagnose central precocious puberty (CPP) are time-consuming, inconvenient, and expensive.

Objectives

To determine predictive cut-off values codetermined by ultrasonographic parameters and basal gonadotropin levels in girls with premature sexual development and compare them results of criterion standard tests in a study of diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

Retrospective review of hormonal investigations and ultrasonographic uterine and ovarian parameters in a consecutive sample of girls at a single center, tertiary care hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

Results

We separated data from 68 girls (age range 2-12 years) into 2 groups based on their response to a GnRH analogue agonist stimulation test. A "prepubertal response" group included girls with premature thelarche and thelarche variants (n = 18, 6.37 ± 1.77 years) and a "pubertal response" group, including girls with CPP (n = 50, 8.46 ± 1.46 years); excluding patients with pathological causes (n = 0). The basal level of luteinizing hormone (LH) had the largest area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.93) compared with basal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (AUC 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.90) or estradiol (0.70; 95% CI 0.56-0.85). An optimal cut-off of 0.25 IU/L LH was related to a pubertal response to GnRH analogue agonist stimulation tests with 75.0% sensitivity, 88.9% specificity, 94.7% positive predictive value (PPV), and 57.1% negative predictive value. Uterine and ovarian cut-off volumes of 3.5 cm3 and 1.5 cm3 were related to a pubertal response with 88.6% and 76.2% PPV, respectively. A uterine width cut-off of 1.7 cm combined with a basal LH cut-off of 0.25 IU/L increased specificity and PPV to 100%.

Conclusion

Combining uterine and ovarian ultrasonographic parameters with basal gonadotropin levels, especially uterine width and basal LH level, appears useful for diagnosis of CPP.

The Diagnostic Utility of the Basal Luteinizing Hormone Level and Single 60-Minute Post GnRH Agonist Stimulation Test for Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty in Girls

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of the Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and single 60-minute post gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist stimulation test for idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.

METHODS

Data from 1,492 girls diagnosed with precocious puberty who underwent GnRH agonist stimulation testing between January 1, 2016, and October 8, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. LH levels and LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratios were measured by immuno-chemiluminescence assay before and at several timepoints after GnRH analogue stimulation testing. Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation, χ² test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to determine the diagnostic utility of these hormone levels.

RESULTS

The 1,492 subjects were split into two groups: an idiopathic CPP group (n = 518) and a non-CPP group (n = 974). Basal LH levels and LH/FSH ratios were significantly different between the two groups at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after GnRH analogue stimulation testing. Spearman's correlation analysis showed the strongest correlation between peak LH and LH levels at 60 minutes after GnRH agonist stimulation (r = 0.986, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis revealed that the 60-minute LH/FSH ratio yielded the highest consistency, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.988 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.982-0.993) and a cut-off point of 0.603 mIU/L (sensitivity 97.3%, specificity 93.0%). The cut-off points of basal LH and LH/FSH were 0.255 mIU/L (sensitivity 68.9%, specificity 86.0%) and 0.07 (sensitivity 73.2%, specificity 89.5%), respectively, with AUCs of 0.823 (95% CI, 0.799-0.847) and 0.843 (95% CI, 0.819-0.867), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A basal LH value greater than 0.535 mIU/L can be used to diagnose CPP without a GnRH agonist stimulation test. A single 60-minute post-stimulus gonadotropin result of LH and LH/FSH can be used instead of a GnRH agonist stimulation test, or samples can be taken only at 0, 30, and 60 minutes after a GnRH agonist stimulation test. This reduces the number of blood draws required compared with the traditional stimulation test, while still achieving a high level of diagnostic accuracy.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test and diagnostic cutoff in precocious puberty: a mini review

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is a valuable tool in diagnosing and differentiating causes of early pubertal occurrences. Utility of the test can be limited in some instances, however, including the early phases of pubertal hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activation, in girls showing commonly overlapping pictures, and in obese children due to excess circulating estrogen that suppresses luteinizing hormone (LH). A lack of consistent baseline and stimulated gonadotropin cutoffs observed in different studies also contributes to limitations in testing. Nevertheless, early detection of true pathological causes for pubertal disorders is needed to allow prompt treatment and better prognosis. While basal LH can be beneficial as a good screening tool for detecting pubertal disorder, it does not preclude the need for GnRH testing. The aim of this review was to highlight the role of GnRH stimulation tests and varying testing cutoffs in diagnosis of precocious puberty and its classification.

Adequacy of basal luteinizing hormone levels in the diagnosis of central precocious puberty

AIM

To determine the clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters that could be used for differentiating central precocious puberty from premature thelarche in girls who had breast development between the ages of 3 and 8 years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 344 girls (196 girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty, 148 girls with premature thelarche) who underwent gonadotropin- releasing hormone stimulation tests for breast development. Age at diagnosis, bone age, anthropometric measurements, basal/stimulated hormone levels were recorded. Univariate regression analysis was performed to determine the parameters that could be used for differentiating precocious puberty from premature thelarche. Significant parameters in univariate analyses were grouped according to the thresholds determined using receiver operating characteristic curves and reevaluated through multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The bone age, height-standard deviation score, body mass index-standard deviation score, and growth velocity-standard deviation score at diagnosis were found to be higher; pubertal stages were found to be more advanced; uterus and ovary volumes were found to be larger; and the basal/peak luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone levels were found to be higher in the subjects with precocious puberty. There was no difference between estradiol levels between the two groups. The best thresholds to differentiate the two groups were found as 0.65 IU/L (78% sensitivity, 100% specificity), 1.9 IU/L (100% sensitivity, 72% specificity), 0.25 (67% sensitivity, 100% specificity) and 1.1 (69% sensitivity, 71% specificity), respectively, for basal luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, and the growth velocity-standard deviation score.

CONCLUSION

In girls presenting with early breast development, a basal luteinizing hormone level of ≥0.65 IU/L and a luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio of ≥0.25 are sensitive ways to demonstrate activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. Among these, the variable that gives the best sensitivity and specificity is the measurement of basal luteinizing hormone levels (≥0.65 IU/L), which can be used as a screening test in the diagnosis of central precocious puberty.

Rapid progressive central precocious puberty: diagnostic and predictive value of basal sex hormone levels and pelvic ultrasound

Objectives Data on the predictive values of parameters included in the diagnostic work-up for precocious puberty (PP) remain limited. We detected the diagnostic value of basal sex hormone levels, pelvic ultrasound parameters and bone age assessment for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in girls with PP, in order to help in the decision to perform GnRH testing. Patients and methods We retrospectively considered 177 girls with PP. According to puberty evolution, the girls were divided into two groups: rapid progressive central precocious puberty (RP-CPP) and non/slowly progressive/transient forms (SP-PP). In all patients we considered Tanner stage, basal luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) values, bone age, and pelvis examination. We assessed the diagnostic value of each variable and identified the number of pathological parameters that best identify patients with RP-CPP. Results Basal LH ≥ 0.2IU/L, E2 level ≥ 50 pmol/L, uterine longitudinal diameter ≥ 3.5 cm, transverse uterine diameter ≥ 1.5 cm, endometrial echo and ovarian volume ≥ 2 cm3 were significantly associated with RP-CPP (p ≤ 0.01). The ability to diagnose RP-CPP was enhanced with increasing number of pathological hormonal and instrumental parameters (p < 0.001). With more than three parameters detected, sensitivity and specificity reached 58% (95%CI 48-67) and 85% (95%CI 74-92), respectively, with a PPV = 86% (95%CI 76-93) and PPN = 54% (95%CI 43-54); the area under the ROC curve was 0.71 (95%CI 0.65-0.78). Conclusion Despite the availability of different tests, diagnosing RP-CPP remains difficult. A diagnosis model including at least three hormonal and/or ultrasound parameters may serve as a useful preliminary step in selecting patients who require GnRH testing for early detection of RC-PP.

Near final adult height, and body mass index in overweight/obese and normal-weight children with idiopathic central precocious puberty and treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs

Background The standard treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) is gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa). It is a concern that children treated with GnRHa are at risk of developing obesity which could impair the treatment outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of GnRHa on body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS), and the influence of BMI status on treatment outcomes in children with idiopathic CPP (iCPP). Methods A retrospective cohort study in children with iCPP who completed GnRHa treatment and had attained near final adult height (NFAH) was conducted. Children with a history of disease or drug ingestion which could affect their BMI were excluded. BMI, BMI SDS, height (Ht), Ht SDS, predicted adult height (PAH), and NFAH were compared at baseline, 1 and 2 years during treatment, and at NFAH according to the baseline BMI status; normal weight and overweight/obesity. Results Fifty-eight children with iCPP treated with GnRHa were enrolled. The BMI SDS was significantly increased at 1 and 2 years during treatment in the overweight/obese group and at 1 year during treatment in the normal-weight group. However, at NFAH (2 years after treatment discontinuation), the BMI SDS was not statistically different from baseline in both groups. Ht gain, change in Ht SDS and BMI SDS were not statistically different from the baseline in both groups. Conclusions GnRHa results in a transient increase in BMI SDS during treatment and returned to baseline after treatment cessation. The benefit of GnRHa treatment on final Ht improvement is similar between overweight/obese and normal-weight patients.

Basal serum luteinizing hormone value as the screening biomarker in female central precocious puberty

PURPOSE

Precocious puberty refers to the development of secondary sex characteristics before ages 8 and 9 years in girls and boys, respectively. Central precocious puberty (CPP) is caused by premature activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and causes thelarche in girls before the age of 8. A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the standard diagnostic modality for diagnosing CPP. However, the test cannot always be used for screening because it is expensive and time-consuming. This study aimed to find alternative reliable screening parameters to identify HPG axis activation in girls &lt;8 years old (CPP) and for girls 8-9 years old (early puberty, EP).

METHODS

From January 2013 to June 2015, medical records from 196 girls younger than 9 years old with onset of breast development were reviewed, including 126 girls who had a bone age (BA) 1 year above their chronological age. All patients underwent a GnRH stimulation test, and 117 underwent pelvic sonography. The girls were divided into 4 groups based on age and whether the GnRH stimulation test showed evidence of central puberty. Subanalyses were also conducted within each group based on peak luteinizing hormone (LH) level quartiles.

RESULTS

Basal serum LH level was the most sensitive marker for screening CPP and EP. The cutoff values were 0.245 IU/L for CPP under 8 years old (P=0.049, area under the curve [AUC]=0.764, 88% sensitivity, 48% specificity) and 0.275 IU/L for EP between 8-9 years old (P=0.005, AUC=0.813, 79% sensitivity, 77% specificity). Peak LH level decreased as BMI z-score among subgroups increased when there was no difference in BA; however, higher BA eliminated this effect.

CONCLUSION

Basal serum LH level is a useful screening parameter for diagnosing CPP and EP in girls. Peak LH levels were lower with increasing BMI z-score, although older BA eliminated this effect.

Central precocious puberty in girls: Diagnostic study and auxological response to triptorelin treatment

INTRODUCTION

There are several controversies regarding the diagnostic tests and management of central precocious puberty (CPP). The aim of this study is to present the experience acquired in a group of girls with CPP treated with triptorelin, and to analyze the auxological characteristics and diagnostic tests.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An observational, retrospective study in a group of 60 girls with CPP was conducted between January 2010 and December 2017. Sociodemographic, auxological and hormonal data were recorded at diagnosis, and pelvic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the head were performed. Girls were treated with triptorelin and monitored after treatment discontinuation until menarche.

RESULTS

At treatment start, chronological age and bone age were 7.7±0.7 and 9.7±0.8 years respectively, and growth velocity was 8.3±1.6cm/year. Target height was 161.1±5.8cm. Peak LH level after stimulation was 16.6±12.1 IU/l. Ovarian volumes were greater than 3mL in 35% of cases. MRI of the head was pathological in seven girls (11.7%). At treatment completion, chronological age and bone age were 10.3±1.1 and 11.2±0.8 years respectively, and growth velocity was 4.7±1.4cm/year. At the age of menarche (11.9±0.9 years), height was 157.5±5.7cm.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of CPP with triptorelin appears to be beneficial. The possibility to block pubertal development and slow skeletal maturation allows patients to reach their target height. However, individualized auxological monitoring would be mandatory.

Evaluation of basal sex hormone levels for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify the predictive value of basal sex hormone levels for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in girls.

METHODS

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation tests were performed and evaluated in a total of 1750 girls with development of secondary sex characteristics. Correlation analyses were conducted between basal sex hormones and peak luteinizing hormone (LH) levels ≥5 IU/L during the GnRH stimulation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for basal levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, and estradiol (E2) before the GnRH stimulation test were plotted. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured for each curve.

RESULTS

The maximum AUC value was observed for basal LH levels (0.77, 95% CI: 0.74-0.79), followed by basal FSH levels (0.73, 95% CI: 0.70-0.75), the basal LH/FSH ratio (0.68, 95% CI: 0.65-0.71), and basal E2 levels (0.61, 95% CI: 0.59-0.64). The appropriate cutoff value of basal LH levels associated with a positive response of the GnRH stimulation test was 0.35 IU/L, with a sensitivity of 63.96% and specificity of 76.3% from the ROC curves when Youden's index showed the maximum value. When 100% of patients had peak LH levels ≥5 IU/L, basal LH values were >2.72 IU/L, but the specificity was only 5.45%.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased basal LH levels are a significant predictor of a positive response during the GnRH stimulation test for assessing activation of the HPG axis in most girls with early pubertal signs.

Advanced bone age as an indicator facilitates the diagnosis of precocious puberty

OBJECTIVE

Diagnosis of central precocious puberty has always been challenging in clinical practice. As an important method in the diagnosis of central precocious puberty, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test is complex and time-consuming. In many cases, clinical traits are inconsistent with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test results, therefore not reliable for diagnosis. In this study, the authors intended to find an indicator that predicts the results of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test among subjects with early pubertal signs.

METHODS

Cases of 382 girls with early breast development before 8 years old and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test before 9 years old were included and underwent follow-up tests. Patients with peak luteinizing hormone level ≥5IU/L were considered positive in the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test. Anthropometric data, body mass index, bone age evaluation, blood hormones levels of luteinizing hormone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and uterine and ovarian volumes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Subjects with positive results in the initial test demonstrated early bone maturation, accelerated growth, and elevated basal blood luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, when compared with subjects with negative results in the initial test. Subjects with positive results in the follow-up test presented a more advanced bone age and more accelerated linear growth, when compared with subjects with negative results in the follow-up test.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the statistical analysis, advanced bone age is the most effective predictor of the result of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test.

Efficacy and safety of domestic leuprorelin in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty: a multicenter, randomized, parallel, controlled trial

Background:

In central precocious puberty (CPP), the pulse secretion and release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) are increased due to early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in developmental abnormalities with gonadal development and appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. The CPP without organic disease is known as idiopathic CPP (ICPP). The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic leuprorelin (GnRH analog) in girls with ICPP.

Methods:

A total of 236 girls with ICPP diagnosed from April 2012 to January 2014 were selected and were randomized into two groups. One hundred fifty-seven girls in the test group were treated with domestic leuprorelin acetate, 79 girls in the control group were treated with imported leuprorelin acetate. They all were treated and observed for 6 months. After 6-month treatment, the percentage of children with peak luteinizing hormone (LH) ≤3.3 U/L, the percentage of children with peak LH/peak follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio <0.6, the improvements of secondary sexual characteristics, gonadal development and sex hormone levels, the change of growth rate of bone age (BA) and growth velocity, and drug adverse effects between two groups were compared.

Results:

After the treatment, the percentage of children with a suppressed LH response to GnRH, defined as a peak LH ≤3.3 U/L, at 6 months in test and control groups were 96.80% and 96.20%, respectively, and the percentage of children with peak LH/FSH ratio ≤0.6 at 6 months in test and control groups were 93.60% and 93.70%, respectively. The sizes of breast, uterus and ovary of children and the levels of estradiol (E₂) were significantly reduced, and the growth rate of BA was also reduced. All the differences between pre- and post-treatment in each group were statistically significant (P < 0. 05), but the differences of the parameters between two groups were not significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Domestic leuprorelin is effective and safe in the treatment of Chinese girls with ICPP. Its effectiveness and safety are comparable with imported leuprorelin.

Triple X syndrome and puberty: focus on the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis in a cohort of children and adolescents with nonmosaic triple X syndrome.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study with retrospective analysis.

SETTING

University pediatric hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Fifteen prepubertal subjects (median age 9.0 years, range 6.9-11.9 years) with nonmosaic triple X syndrome and age- and pubertal-matched control group (30 girls, median age 9.1 y, range 6.9-11.6 years).

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

We evaluated FSH, LH, and E2 levels and performed an autoimmunity screening as well as a pelvic ultrasonography and an LH-releasing hormone stimulation test.

RESULT(S)

All triple X patients (with and without pubertal signs) showed a pubertal LH peak level that was significantly different from controls. Triple X patients showed increased basal and peak FSH and LH values compared with control subjects. However, the mean E2 level was significantly lower than control subjects. However, triple X patients showed reduced DHEAS levels and reduced inhibin levels compared with control subjects. Finally, triple X patients had a significantly reduced ovarian volume compared with control subjects, in both prepubertal and pubertal patients.

CONCLUSION(S)

Triple X patients showed premature activation of the GnRH pulse generator, even without puberty signs. Both basal and peak LH and FSH levels were higher than in control subjects, and E2 and inhibin levels and ovarian volume were reduced, which led to a reduced gonadal function. Other studies and a longitudinal evaluation is necessary to better understand the endocrinologic features of these subjects.

Gonadotropin and Estradiol Levels after Leuprolide Stimulation Tests in Brazilian Girls with Precocious Puberty

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the best cutoff value on the leuprolide stimulation test for the diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) in a Brazilian population.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This observational study included 60 girls with CPP, as shown on the basis of serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) before and 3 hours after subcutaneous administration of 500 μg leuprolide acetate and by measuring serum estradiol concentrations 24 hours later. Six months later, each subject was clinically evaluated to determine whether she had experienced progressive or nonprogressive puberty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Analyzing the best cutoff for LH after subcutaneous administration of 500 μg leuprolide acetate.

RESULTS

The best cutoff was a 3-hour LH level of greater than 4.0 mIU/mL, providing the highest sensitivity (73%) and specificity (83.1%), whereas a 3-hour LH level greater than 8.4 mIU/mL had a specificity of 100%. A 24-hour E2 concentration greater than 52.9 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 74%. There was no association between pubertal development and disease progression. Signs such as thelarche and pubarche did not determine the evolution of the disease (P = .17). Clinical condition was associated with bone age/chronological age (P = .01), basal LH (P < .01), 3-hour LH (P = .02), baseline LH/FSH indices (P < .01) and after 3 hours (P < .01), and E2 at 24 hours (P = .02).

CONCLUSION

The optimal parameter indicating hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activation in our sample was a 3-hour LH level greater than 4.0 mIU/mL. A diagnosis of CPP, however, should be based on a set of criteria and not on an isolated measurement, because typical laboratory findings associated with CPP may not be present in all patients.

Clinical and laboratory findings in the differential diagnosis of central precocious puberty and premature thelarche

AIM

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the clinical, antropometric and laboratory findings of female patients diagnosed with central precocious puberty and to determine the laboratory value with the best diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of central precocious puberty.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Female patients whose breast development began before the age of 8 years were included in the study. The data of the patients were obtained by retrospectively examining file records. The chronogical age, age at the time of onset of the complaint, antropometric variables, bone age and hormonal tests were recorded. The patients whose bone age/chronological age ratio was >1 and in whom pubertal response was obtained to gonodotropin releasing hormone stimulation test were considered central precocious puberty and the patients who did not meet these criteria were considered premature thelarche. Receiver operating charecteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the laboratory variables.

RESULTS

Fifty one patients with idiopathic central precocious puberty and 36 patients with premature thelarche were included in the study. In the patients with central precocious puberty, the height standard deviation score, bone age and bone age/chronological age ratio were found to be significantly higher compared to the patients with premature thelarche. The basal luteinizing hormone, basal follicle stimulating hormone, basal luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone, peak luteinizing hormone, peak follicle stimulating hormone and peak luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone values were found to be significantly higher in the patients with central precocious puberty. When the cut-off value for the peak luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone ratio was taken as >0.24, the sensitivity was found to be 100% and specificity was found to be 84%. When the cut-off value for the basal follicle stimulating hormone was taken as >1.9 IU/L, the sensitivity was found to be 71% and specificity was found to be 68%. When the cut-off value for the basal luteinizing hormone was taken as >0.1 IU/L, the sensitivity was found to be 71% and specificity was found to be 64%.

CONCLUSIONS

In female children, a peak luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone ratio of >0.24 can be used in the diagnosis of central precocious puberty. However, the findings should be assessed in association with the clinical and antropometric variables.

Factors that predict a positive response on gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test for diagnosing central precocious puberty in girls

PURPOSE

The rapid increase in the incidence of precocious puberty in Korea has clinical and social significance. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is required to diagnose central precocious puberty (CPP), however this test is expensive and time-consuming. This study aimed to identify factors that can predict a positive response to the GnRH stimulation test.

METHODS

Clinical and laboratory parameters, including basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2), were measured in 540 girls with clinical signs of CPP.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-nine of 540 girls with suspected CPP had a peak serum LH level higher than 5 IU/L (the CPP group). The CPP group had advanced bone age (P<0.001), accelerated yearly growth rate (P<0.001), increased basal levels of LH (P=0.02), FSH (P<0.001), E2 (P=0.001), and insulin-like growth factor-I levels (P<0.001) compared to the non-CPP group. In contrast, body weight (P<0.001) and body mass index (P<0.001) were lower in the CPP group. Although basal LH was significantly elevated in the CPP group compared to the non-CPP group, there was considerable overlap between the 2 groups. Cutoff values of basal LH (0.22 IU/L) detected CPP with 87.8% sensitivity and 20.9% specificity.

CONCLUSION

No single parameter can predict a positive response on the GnRH stimulation test with both high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, multiple factors should be considered in evaluation of sexual precocity when deciding the timing of the GnRH stimulation test.

Basal luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone: is it sufficient for the diagnosis of precocious puberty in girls?

PURPOSE

A gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test (GnRHST) is the gold standard in diagnosing central precocious puberty (CPP). The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of basal gonadotropin levels for girls with suspected precocious puberty and to evaluate the factors affecting positive results of the GnRHST.

METHODS

Korean girls with early pubertal development who visited the clinic during 2010-2012 were included. Auxological and biochemical tests were evaluated and a standard GnRHST was performed. A peak luteinizing hormone (LH) level of ≥5 IU/L was considered a positive response during the GnRHST.

RESULTS

A total of 336 girls were included. The positive responses were observed in 241 girls (71.7%), and negative responses were found in 95 girls (28.3%). In the logistic regression analysis, the coefficient of the basal LH and basal LH/follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio was 4.23 (P<0.001) and 21.28 (P<0.001), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the basal LH/FSH ratio is a better predictor of the pubertal result after the GnRHST than the basal LH (area under the curve was 0.745 and 0.740, respectively; P=0.027). Among 189 girls with a basal LH of <0.1 IU/L, 105 (55.6%) had positive responses.

CONCLUSION

An elevated level of the basal LH and basal LH/FSH ratio was a significant predicting factor of positive responses during the GnRHST. However a GnRHST was still necessary for diagnostic confirmation of CPP because more than half of the girls with a basal LH level below the detection limit revealed to have CPP.

Precocious puberty in girls

Precocious puberty in girls can be due to number of factors of which idiopathic central precocious puberty is the most common etiology. Here, we describe 3 cases of precocious puberty where the first case had premature thelarche in the background history of mother with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, cases 2 and 3 had ovarian tumours with heterogeneity in presentation.