title: Participation of sex hormones in multifactorial pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to verify the potential association between the aetiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and the process of sexual maturation, we determined the concentrations of oestrogens in pre- and postmenarcheal girls affected by this condition. AIS, occurring mostly in pubescent girls, is one of the most frequent forms of faulty posture. Therefore, it was assumed that the multifactorial pathomechanism of AIS involves significant deficiency of oestrogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diagnosis of AIS was established on the basis of physical examination and analyses of radiograms. Concentrations of FSH, LH, oestrogens, progesterone, osteocalcin and RANKL were determined by ELISA. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) was measured by kinetic method. The study included pre- and postmenarcheal girls with AIS and corresponding groups of scoliosis-free controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In premenarcheal scoliotic girls, the levels of FSH, LH and oestradiol were lower; the levels of progesterone, oestrone and oestriol were higher; and the concentrations of oestrone and oestriol were similar compared to premenarcheal controls. Higher levels of RANKL, osteocalcin and AP were observed in premenarcheal adolescents with AIS compared to controls. The concentrations of FSH, LH, oestradiol, and progesterone in postmenarcheal girls with scoliosis were lower, oestrone were slightly lower and oestriol did not differ compared with the control group. Significantly higher levels of RANKL, osteocalcin and AP were observed in postmenarcheal scoliotic adolescents compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an interdependence between the concentration of oestradiol and development of scoliosis. Determination of estradiol may have diagnostic value in the screening of spinal pathologies associated with AIS.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, The University School of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Kulis
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Goździalska
authors: Jagoda
authors: J
authors: Drąg
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Jaśkiewicz
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Knapik-Czajka
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Lipik
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Zarzycki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000097:blood; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D053245:RANK Ligand; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human; D011374:Progesterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase