Children born small for gestational age (SGA) may present advanced bone maturation in childhood and reduced final height. The objectives of the study were to evaluate adrenarche, pubertal development, age at menarche and final height in full-term born-SGA girls. Twenty-four girls (12 born-SGA and 12 matched controls) were evaluated at 6-7.5 years of age for clinical signs of puberty and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DNEAS) levels, as a marker of adrenarche. Thirty-eight girls (19 born-SGA and 19 matched controls) were evaluated at 17.5-18.5 years of age to assess final height, sexual maturation and age at menarche. SGA girls had a mean final height (160.1 cm vs 165.8 cm, p < 0.01) and mean weight (52.1 kg vs 56.5 kg, p < 0. 05) significantly lower than controls. Controls had a mean final height significantly higher than their mean target height. Sexual maturation was at stage 5 of Tanner's staging in SGA girls and control subjects. SGA girls had a slightly anticipated puberty (9.9 vs 10.4 years for initial breast development) and a lower age at menarche (11.9 vs 22.3 years). At 6-7.5 years of age, SGA females and controls did not show any difference for clinical signs of puberty; however, DHEAS levels (0.75 + 0. 18 mug/ml vs 0.57 + 0.22 mug/ml, p < 0. 05) were significantly higher in SGA girls than in control subjects. We concluded that full-term born-SGA females have impaired final height and weighs in adolescence but substantially normal sexual maturation and age at menarche. Increased DHEAS levels before puberty in born-SGA girls may predispose to increased bone maturation in childhood with a reduced final height. In our population a progressive increment in final stature is evident.

Adrenarche, pubertal development, age at menarche and final height of full-term, born small for gestational age (SGA) girls

GHIRRI, PAOLO;BOLDRINI, ANTONIO
2001-01-01

Abstract

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) may present advanced bone maturation in childhood and reduced final height. The objectives of the study were to evaluate adrenarche, pubertal development, age at menarche and final height in full-term born-SGA girls. Twenty-four girls (12 born-SGA and 12 matched controls) were evaluated at 6-7.5 years of age for clinical signs of puberty and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DNEAS) levels, as a marker of adrenarche. Thirty-eight girls (19 born-SGA and 19 matched controls) were evaluated at 17.5-18.5 years of age to assess final height, sexual maturation and age at menarche. SGA girls had a mean final height (160.1 cm vs 165.8 cm, p < 0.01) and mean weight (52.1 kg vs 56.5 kg, p < 0. 05) significantly lower than controls. Controls had a mean final height significantly higher than their mean target height. Sexual maturation was at stage 5 of Tanner's staging in SGA girls and control subjects. SGA girls had a slightly anticipated puberty (9.9 vs 10.4 years for initial breast development) and a lower age at menarche (11.9 vs 22.3 years). At 6-7.5 years of age, SGA females and controls did not show any difference for clinical signs of puberty; however, DHEAS levels (0.75 + 0. 18 mug/ml vs 0.57 + 0.22 mug/ml, p < 0. 05) were significantly higher in SGA girls than in control subjects. We concluded that full-term born-SGA females have impaired final height and weighs in adolescence but substantially normal sexual maturation and age at menarche. Increased DHEAS levels before puberty in born-SGA girls may predispose to increased bone maturation in childhood with a reduced final height. In our population a progressive increment in final stature is evident.
2001
Ghirri, Paolo; Bernardini, M; Vuerich, M; Cuttano, Am; Coccoli, L; Merusi, I; Ciulli, C; D'Accavio, L; Bottone, U; Boldrini, Antonio
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/177948
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 76
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 68
social impact