title: Physiological estrogen replacement therapy for puberty induction in girls: a clinical observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in girls with hypogonadism is to achieve the endocrine milieu similar to natural puberty, where transdermal administration is the most physiological route. The aim of the study was to evaluate guidelines for the induction of puberty with transdermal estradiol (E2) patches in a large outpatient setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study, serum E2 levels from 18 clinics were analyzed at the Göteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center laboratory, as part of the initiation of ERT in girls with hypogonadism. Exclusion criteria were pubertas tarda and pubertal arrest. Eighty-eight observations (50 with Turner syndrome, TS) were included. Serum E2 levels were determined by extraction + radioimmunoassay (detection limit 4 pmol/l) and analyzed in relation to the dose of Evorel(®) (25 µg/24 h, containing 1.60 mg estradiol hemihydrate; Janssen-Cilag Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a linear relationship between serum E2 and the weight-based dose, with r = 0.56, p < 0.0001 for all observations and r = 0.59, p < 0.0001 for the TS study group. Linear regression analysis for doses of 0.05-0.07 µg/kg resulted in serum levels of 17-23 pmol/l (TS 17-24 pmol/l) and doses of 0.08-0.12 µg/kg in 26-39 pmol/l (TS 27-39 pmol/l).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the initiation of ERT with nocturnally administered E2 patches, we recommend reduced starting doses of 0.05-0.07 µg/kg, with the goal of mimicking E2 levels during gonadarche. In older girls, when breast development is of high priority, the starting dose can still be 0.08-0.12 µg/kg.
authors: Göteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors: Carina
authors: C
authors: Ankarberg-Lindgren
authors: Berit
authors: B
authors: Kriström
authors: Ensio
authors: E
authors: Norjavaara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol