Borderline or Early and Slowly Progressing Puberty

Overview

The aim of the study was to analyse growth and sexual development of untreated girls with puberty startingbetween 7 - 9 years.At the Endocrine Clinic of 2nd Department of Paediatrics, Faculty Hospital Motol-Prague, 19 girls werefollowed-up. Organic and/or other endocrine aetiology was excluded. Once a year, auxologial parameters, sexualdevelopment (Tanner stages), age at menarche, and menstrual cycle were evaluated.Initial bone age was advanced by 2.2 ± 1.3 yr (range 0 - 5). Nine girls with an initial height prediction (graphicmethod) 163.2 ± 4.6 cm and target height 164.6 ± 5.0 cm have had already achieved their final height 165.8 ± 6 cm(NS). Thirteen girls reached menarche at 11.5 ± 1.0 yr (9.6 - 13.6); i.e. 3.9 ± 1.2 yr (1.6 - 5.6) after the first signs ofpuberty. Menarche was earlier compared with their mothers (13.0 ± 1.1 yr) and with Czech standards (p < 0.05).The menstrual cycle was normal and regular in all girls with a postmenarchal period > 2 yr.Borderline and/or slowly progressing idiopathic early puberty should be considered a variant of normaldevelopment. Sexual development is normal and final height was not compromised. In such cases, therapy is notnecessary.

Key words:
borderline and early puberty, untreated girls, growth, sexual development, final height