[Causes of precocious puberty in children referred for evaluation in hospital conditions].
BACKGROUND
Symptoms of precocious puberty (PP) in children always arouse anxiety in their parents. Many children with PP are being hospitalized for the detailed diagnostic work-up. The aim of our study was to analyze the frequency of the variants of PP in children referred to our department.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 119 children (103 girls and 16 boys) referred for hospitalization in the years 2003-2005 due to signs of precocious puberty was performed.


RESULTS
Premature thelarche, benign variant of puberty, was diagnosed in 62 (53%) girls, in the mean age of 3.39 (+/- 2.33) years. Their mean height was within 0.7 +/- 1.1 SD. Premature pubarche was diagnosed 30 (25%) children--22 girls and 8 boys in the mean age was 7.24 (+/- 0.81) years. Their mean height was 1.3 +/- 1.0 SD and was significantly higher than normal (p < 0.0001). Premature menarche was diagnosed in 8 (7%) girls in the mean age 4.81 +/-2.26 years. Mean height in this group was normal for age (0.9+/-0.8 SD). PP was diagnosed in 19 (16%) children (11 girls and 8 boys) in the mean age 5.91 +/- 1.63 years. Mean height in this group was 1.6 +/- 0.7 SD, and was significantly higher than the mean for age (p<0.0005). GnRH-dependent type was present in 15 children, diagnosed as idiopathic in 9 girls and 1 boy. In 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl) pathology of central nervous system was found. In 4 children GnRH-independent precocious puberty was diagnosed--in 3 caused by congenital adrenal hyperplasia and in 1 boy by tumour of testis (leydigioma).


CONCLUSIONS
Girls with precocious thelarche without growth acceleration present the benign variant of puberty and need clinical follow up only. Boys with clinical signs of precocious puberty should be carefully evaluated to rule out the organic cause.
Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Endokrynologii i Diabetologii Dziecicej, Slaski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice. olatrz@poczta.onet.pl
Aleksandra
A
Januszek-Trzciakowska
Barbara
B
Kalina-Faska
Maria
M
Kalina
Agnieszka
A
Zachurzok-Buczyńska
Aneta
A
Gawlik
Ewa
E
Małecka-Tendera
D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies