title: Diagnosis and constitutional and laboratory features of Korean girls referred for precocious puberty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Precocious puberty is defined as breast development before the age of 8 years in girls. The present study aimed to reveal the diagnosis of Korean girls referred for precocious puberty and to compare the constitutional and endocrinological features among diagnosis groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study used a retrospective chart review of 988 Korean girls who had visited a pediatric endocrinology clinic from 2006 to 2010 for the evaluation of precocious puberty. Study groups comprised fast puberty, true precocious puberty (PP), pseudo PP, premature thelarche, and control. We determined the height standard deviation score (HSDS), weight standard deviation score (WSDS), and body mass index standard deviation score (BMISDS) of each group using the published 2007 Korean growth charts. Hormone tests were performed at our outpatient clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PP groups comprised fast puberty (67%), premature thelarche (17%), true PP (15%), and pseudo PP (1%). Advanced bone age and levels of estradiol, basal luteinizing hormone (LH), and peak LH after gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation testing were significantly high in the fast puberty and true PP groups compared with the control group. HSDS, WSDS, and BMISDS were significantly higher in the true PP group than in the control group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequent causes of PP were found to be fast puberty, true PP, and premature thelarche. Furthermore, BMISDS were significantly elevated in the true PP group. Therefore, we emphasize the need for regular follow-up of girls who are heavier or taller than others in the same age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Doosoo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Se-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Eun Sang
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Dong-Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jin
keywords: Body mass index; Precocious puberty; Premature thelarche; Puberty; Sexual maturation