Serum FSH level below 10 mIU/mL at twelve years old is an index of spontaneous and cyclical menstruation in Turner syndrome.
The gonadal function of patients with Turner syndrome (TS) is variable. Individuals with mosaicism characterized by 45,X/46,XX or 45,X/47,XXX are more likely to experience spontaneous menarche compared with other karyotypes. Prepubertal gonadotropins of TS patients with spontaneous menarche are reportedly normal or significantly lower than those of patients with induced menarche. The present study investigated an index of spontaneous and cyclical menstruation at 10-12 years old in TS. Subjects comprised 50 patients with TS, divided into three groups: Group A (n=7), with spontaneous menarche before 16 years old and regular menstruation for at least 1 year and 6 months; Group B (n=6), with irregular menstruation since menarche leading to secondary amenorrhea despite spontaneous menarche before 16 years old; and Group C (n=37), without spontaneous breast budding before 14 years old or without spontaneous menarche before 16 years old. Karyotype, LH and FSH concentrations at 10 and 12 years old were analyzed retrospectively. Spontaneous and cyclical menstruation was more frequently observed in TS with mosaicism characterized by 45,X/46,XX or 45,X/47,XXX than in TS with other karyotypes, as previously described. Spontaneous and cyclical menstruation in TS was observed when serum FSH level was <10 mIU/mL at 12 years old, suggesting this FSH level as an index of spontaneous and cyclical menstruation in TS.
Aso
Keiko
K
Endocrinology and Metabolism Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. keias@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Koto
Shinobu
S
Higuchi
Asako
A
Ariyasu
Daisuke
D
Izawa
Masako
M
Miyamoto Igaki
Junko
J
Hasegawa
Yukihiro
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008499:Medical Records; D008572:Menarche; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009030:Mosaicism; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone