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.

Is cranial imaging necessary in girls between 6-8 years diagnosed with central precocious puberty?

AIM: There is no clear consensus on whether a cranial MRI should be performed in all cases of central precocious puberty(CPP). In this study, we aimed at evaluating the incidence of intracranial lesions and analyzing cranial imaging results in females with CPP. METHODS: In the retrospective study medical records of the case, the age at the time of admission, anthropometric measurements, bone age, Tanner stages, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), serum luteinizing hormone(LH), serum estradiol (E2) levels, the peak LH level during the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test and the cranial MRI findings at the time of the diagnosis of CPP were collected. RESULTS: The mean age diagnosis of the 154 girls included in the study was 6.9 ±1.08. Nine (5.8%) of 154 patients were diagnosed with organic-caused CPP. Four of the nine cases diagnosed with organic CPP had a previously known CNS pathology. The other five cases did not have any neurological findings at the time of diagnosis. Incidental lesions were detected at cranial MRI of nine of the 145 cases diagnosed with idiopathic CPP. The basal E2, basal LH, basal FSH, peak LH and peak LH/FSH levels of the cases with organic CPP were higher than those with idiopathic CPP. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, approximately 90% of organic CPP due to intracranial lesions were between 6-8 years. Therefore, we believe that cranial imaging should be performed in all females with CPP.

The association between electrocardiographic data and obesity in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: There are not enough studies investigating the relationship between obesity and ECG abnormalities in children and adolescents. This study aims to investigate the relationship between obesity and electrocardiographic data in children and adolescents for early diagnosis to prevent arrhythmia or sudden death in later stages of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 65 children and adolescents with obesity applied to our pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic with nonspecific complaints and without any known chronic illnesses; 76 healthy children and adolescents were included in the study. Anthropometric and laboratory data, blood pressure measurements, and 12-lead electrocardiography data of all participants were collected. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the obese and the control group in terms of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein levels, and systolic blood pressure. According to electrocardiographic findings, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of heart rate (p=0.008), PR duration (p<0.001), left ventricular hypertrophy (p=0.02), P maximum (p=0.04), P dispersion (p<0.001), QRS duration (p<0.001), QT minimum (p=0.007), QT maximum (p=0.03), QT dispersion (p=0.024), QTc minimum (p=0.002), QTc dispersion (p=0.003), Tp-e minimum (p=0.007), and Tpe maximum (p=0.003) variables. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences between the electrocardiographic evaluation of obese group compared to the control group in our study, which may be associated with risk of cardiac arrhythmia. These differences require monitorization in terms of cardiac arrhythmia and risk of sudden death. Further studies with longer follow-up time are needed to support the potential clinical outcomes of our findings.