title: Accelerated early pubertal progression, ovarian morphology, and ovarian function in prospectively followed low birth weight (LBW) girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare pubertal development in age-matched healthy girls born with low birth weight (LBW) or appropriate birth weight for gestational age (AGA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Girls with breast in Tanner stage II and normal body mass index were followed for 3 years with a complete physical exam, bone age, pelvic ultrasound, and measurement of gonadal hormones using a leuprolide test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one girls (AGA 25/LBW 16) were followed up for 3 years. By 3 years, they had similar bone age, adjusted height, and body composition. In LBW girls, breast Tanner stage advanced faster during the first 2 years of follow-up, which was associated with higher serum androgens. Hirsutism score, ovarian volume, and number of follicles between AGA and LBW were not different nor was age of menarche. By the third year, basal and poststimulated levels of gonadotropins and androgens anti-Müllerian hormone and inhibin B were similar in both groups and did not show differences related to birth weight or degree of catch-up growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBW recruits showed a slightly faster breast development but no differences in androgen excess signs, internal genitalia, and gonadal hormonal patterns.
authors: University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: María Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Hernández
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Martínez-Aguayo
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Cavada
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Peña
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Trejo
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: Avila
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Salazar
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Asenjo
authors: German
authors: G
authors: Iñiguez
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Rey
authors: Verónica
authors: V
authors: Mericq
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006062:Gonadotropins; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone