title: Changes of skinfold thickness during puberty induced by pulsatile gonadotrophin-releasing hormone therapy.
abstract: We have analysed the changes in triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness ratios of 66 (46 male, 20 female) children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty who progressed through puberty spontaneously and 16 (7 male, 9 female) children with delayed puberty who were treated with pulsatile gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The pattern of change in skinfold thickness in both groups were identical and indistinguishable from standards of normal children when later chronological ages of the patients were allowed for. We observed a decrease in skinfold ratio just prior to the onset of puberty in boys, and such an assessment may be a useful early predictor of the onset of puberty. Our data provided further evidence that all aspects of human puberty are entirely GnRH-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hindmarsh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanhope
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008297:Male; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects*; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
chemical_list: D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones