Isolated premature pubarche: report of anthropometric and metabolic profile of a Brazilian cohort of girls.

AIMS

Isolated premature pubarche (PP) is commonly caused by premature adrenarche (PA), and links between PA, children born small for gestational age (SGA) and insulin resistance have already been made in some populations.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We assessed anthropometric data, pubertal landmarks and metabolic profile at diagnosis and during the study in 52 girls with the diagnosis of isolated PP from a Brazilian cohort.

RESULTS

The prevalence of obesity (25%), dyslipidemia (63.5%) and born SGA children (21.2%) was greater among PP girls than in the reference population (4, 46.8 and 10%, respectively). There was no increase in the prevalence of insulin resistance and no correlation with birth weight, onset of PP or other pubertal signs. The Z score of heights at PP diagnosis was greater than the Z score of mid-parental height, but achieved final height (n = 16 girls, p = 0.002) was similar to normal population standards and to the predicted final height based on bone age at PP diagnosis (p = 0.08). Thelarche and menarche occurred at normal age, just earlier than expected.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of children born SGA, obese and dyslipidemic, but not of hyperinsulinemic children, was high in our cohort of PP girls. Puberty started earlier than usual but within the normal range.