title: The pathophysiology of precocious puberty.
abstract: Advances in understanding of normal puberty have clarified many of the mechanisms underlying precocity and led in several instances to better therapy. The essential diagnostic task is to determine if the normal process has been triggered prematurely or if an abnormal process (usually inappropriate sex steroid secretion) has circumvented the normal physiology.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Loriaux
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D011374:Progesterone