The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment (leuprolide) on body fat distribution in idiopathic central precocious puberty.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) therapy is used in idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) worldwide. It has also been shown that during this therapy, body mass index (BMI) increases slightly as a side effect. We investigated the side effects of GnRHa treatment in ICPP on body composition and insulin resistance (IR). Twenty girls (7.55 +/- 1.02 y) with ICPP were treated with GnRHa (leuprolide) for an average of 20.83 +/- 4.8 months. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) was used to measure the body's fat balance. Nine patients out of 20 (45%) had significant gain weight. We showed a significant elevation in trunk fat mass compare to baseline values (p < 0.01). These nine patients had high homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR and low glucose/insulin (G/I) index. This study showed a slight increase in BMI, moderate increase in total body fat, and exaggerated elevation in trunk fat mass and IR in GnRHa-treated ICPP children.

Assessment of peritrochanteric high T2 signal depending on the age and gender of the patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of peritrochanteric high T2 signal (peritrochanteric edema, peritendinitis) on routine MR imaging studies and to determine whether reporting peritrochanteric edema is always clinically relevant depending on the age and gender of the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 79 consecutive bilateral hip MR images performed in our department between January 2006 and December 2006 (57 female, 22 male patients, mean age 49 years). Each study was evaluated for areas of T2 hyperintensity representing edema around the greater trochanter. Patients with a known fracture, tumor, history of radiation therapy, history of hip surgery and prothesis were excluded from the study. Patients with signal intensity alterations within the thickened gluteus medius/minimus tendons (tendinitis) or peritrochanteric bursal fluid accumulation (bursitis) were also excluded. All patients were scanned with our routine MR imaging protocol for hip imaging. RESULTS: In 55 of the 79 patients (70%) peritrochanteric edema was detected on MR images and 52 of these 55 patients (95%) had these changes on both hips. The median age was 56 years for the patients with peritrochanteric edema and 35.5 years for the patients without peritrochanteric edema. There was statistical significance between the median ages of the patients and a significant increased risk of peritrochanteric edema was found over 40 years of age. There was no significant difference between male and female patients. CONCLUSION: Bilateral peritrochanteric high T2 signal may be a part of the degeneration process and we suggest that it may not be necessarily reported if the clinical findings do not support greater trochanteric pain syndrome.