PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY

BY

BOSEDE

PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
WHAT IS PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY? Early onset of puberty before 8 years of age in girls 9 Y in boys Difficult to ascertain the early age limit because A -15% of black girls Breast development - 5% of white girls at 7 Y of age without associated early menarche B -17.7% of black girls Pubic hair development -2.8 % of white girls at 7 Y of age Most cases of PP are 2ry to idiopathic premature maturation of the HPO axis with Gn RH release

PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
WHAT ARE THE ABNORMALITIES IN THE PROCESS OF SEXUAL MATURATION? 1-Precocious puberty 2-Delayed puberty 3-Dissencronous (eg. Physical changes are not followed by menarche after an appropriate interval) 4-Heterosexual changes 5-Timing of progression of pubertal changes

PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY? 1- Central / true precocious puberty 2-Peripheral /GnRH independent precocious puberty 3-Incomplete precocious puberty

CENTRAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY

CPP is physiologically normal pubertal development that occur at an early age GnRH dependent GnRH pulses gonadotropins ovarian estrogen production & eventual ovulation It follows the pattern of pubertal changes that occur in normal puberty More common in girls than boys

CAUSES OF CPP
1-Idiopathic ----- 80-90% 2-CNS tumors a-Hypothalamic hamartomas A congenital malformation The most common type of CNS tumor that cause CPP Size & shape do not change significantly over time May be associated with seizures (the intrahypothalamic type) Rapidly progressing CPP in a child < 2 Y suggest this Dx GnRH Rx is satisfactory & safe b-Optic glyomas c-Craniopharyngioma d-Dysgerminoma e-Epindymoma f-ganglioneuroma

CAUSES OF CPP
3-CNS dysfunction a-Space occupying lesion eg. Arachnoid cyst b-Hydrocephalus c-Irradiation d-Trauma e-Infection f-Septooptic dysplasia (congenital) g-Excessive exposure to sex steroids (congenital adrenal hyperplasia)

PERIPHERAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY PPP / Pseudo PP

GnRH independent Due to inappropriate sex hormone secretion or exposure to exogenous sex steroids LH & FSH levels are low prepubertal , while estrogen May present with some or all of the physical changes of puberty

CAUSES
A-Exogenous sex steroids or gonadotropins B-Abnormal secretion of gonadotropins (rare) eg. Tumors secreting hCG (teratoma)

CAUSES OF PPP
C-Functioning ovarian tumors UNCOMMON
Granulosa cell 70% present with PP Granulosa-thica cell Mixed germ cell usually benign

Present with rapid progression of breast development , vaginal bleeding & abdominal pain Palpable mass & dulling of vaginal mucosa Estradiol level excessively elevated U/S, CT, MRI, are helpful in confirming the Dx Rx Excision regression of 2ry sexual chct

CAUSES OF PPP
ovarian tumors Cystadenoma May produce estrogen Gonadoblastoma or androgn or both Lipoid Rare D-Functional ovarian cysts Secrete estrogen breast development Rupture or resolution estrogen vaginal bleed Surgery should be avoided E-Adrenal tumors RARE F-Congenital adrenal hyperplasia G-CHRONIC 1RY HYPOTHYROIDISM TSH acts on FSH receptors PPP RX thyroxin resolution of the PPP
CONTD C-Functioning

CAUSES OF PPP
H-McCune-Albright syndrome
Caf-au-lait spots Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia GnRH independent PP Endocrine disorder (hyper thyroidism, hyperparath, Cushing S) Autonomous functioning ovaries with 1 or 2 ovarian cysts estrdiol

Rx Testalactone inhibit aromatase activity estrogen synthesis

Rx of PPP
1-TREAT THE CAUSE (IF POSSIBLE)
2-Drugs Testolactone aromatase inhibitor , inhibit conversion of testosterone to estrogen 35mg/kg/D 3 divided doses Ketoconazole inhibit steroid biosynthesis 200mg tds Cyproterone acetate Potent progestin & antiandrogen, inhibit androgens at the receptor level / supress gonadal & adrenal steroidogenesis : antigonadotrophic 100 mg/m2 2 divided doses

Rx of PPP
Spironolactone inhibit androgens at the receptor level, ovarian androgen production, antimineralocorticoid 50-100mg bd Medroxyprogestrone acetate
Girls with prolonged PPP prolonged exposure of the CNS to estrogen central precocious puberty CPP

INCOMPLETE PRECOCITY
Partial (often transient) pubertal development in the absence of other stigmata of puberty Slow progression , no change or waning of the physical finding may occur 1-PREMATURE THELARCHE Premature beast development in the absence of other signs of sexual maturation Estradiol level Unilateral or bilateral , without areolar development < 2 Y of age & non progressive Follow up should distinguish cases of slow progressing CPP No Rx is indicated & subsequent normal puberty occur

2-PREMATURE PUBARCHE
THE APPEARANCE OF PUBIC HAIR BEFORE 8 Y OF AGE IN GIRLS Early maturation of the normal pubertal adrenal androgen production Adrenarche It is evidence of premature adrenarche without activation of the HPO axis Beast development is absent Slightly accelerated growth velocity & advanced skeletal maturation Puberty occur normally at the appropriate age Dx by exclusion of CAH, androgen secreting tumors & CPP

2-PREMATURE PUBARCHE
50% of pt. with premature pubarche progress to PCO
Hyperandrogenism & insulin resistance are chct of PCO Late onset CAH may have a similar presentation Dx ---ACTH stimulation test Marked of 17-OH progestrone --- plasma level of 17-OH progestrone, AND, DHEA Rx ---- glucocorticoids CPP can occur 2ry to late Dx or inadequate Rx of CAH

3-ANDROGEN SECRETING TUMORS

ADRENAL TUMORS RARE Function autonomously DHEA , DHEAS, testosterone Cortisol Could benign or malignant with poor prognosis
OVARIAN TUMORS Arrhenoblastoma, lipoid cell tumors Testosterone , AND DHEA, DHEAS NORMAL

4-PREMATURE MENARCHE
Uncommon We should role out serious cause of bleeding 1-Neonatal period Due to withdrawal of estrogen produced by the fetoplacental unit 2-Spontaneous regression of ovarian cysts 3-Hypothyroidism 4-McCune Albright Syndrome D. Dx Vulvovaginitis Foreign body in the vagina Trauma Sexual abuse Vaginal tumors

EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH SEXUAL PRECOCITY

WE HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CPP & PPP 1-HISTORY

Onset & progression of symptom (N tempo CPP, Abrupt & rapid estrogen sec Tr) Hx of CNS trauma or infection Symptoms associated with neurological dysfunction Symptoms associated with endocrine dysfunction Exposure to exogenous steroids Hx of abdominal pain or swelling Family Hx early puberty, short stature

2-PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Tall stature for age / changes in HT velocity 2ry sexual chct (Tanner staging) synchronous CPP Neurological examination Fundoscopy & gross visual field evaluation Virilization Evidence of hypothyroidism or hyperadrenalism Examin the skin for acne, odor, caf-au-lait spots, hirsutism Abdomen masses PR

INVESTIGATIONS
1-LAB STUDIES DHEA, DHEAS adrenarche adrenal origion of PPP TSH, T4, hCG LH, FSH, Estradiol LH LH/FSH ratio < 1 Prepubertal gonadotropin secretion LH LH/FSH ratio > 1 Pubertal gonadotropin response CPP

INVESTIGATIONS
GnRH stimulation test 100 ugm of GnRH IV Check FSH & LH baseline, 20,40,60 min Prepubertal Pubertal FSH > LH LH > FSH LH rise is minimal LH peak above < 10 IU/ml upper limit for prepubertal

GnRH STIMULATION TEST

6 Y old with CPP 14Y old with normal puberty 16Y old with H-P destruction 2ry to craniopharyngioma 5Y old prepubertal

INVESTIGATIONS
2-Bone age radiography Advanced in both CPP & PPP Premature adrenarche slightly Premature thelarche Normal

3- CT / MRI OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC PITUITARY REGION Important in all Pt. with suspected CPP or Pt. with neurological symptoms & signs

INVESTIGATIONS
4-U/S Adrenal Ovaries role out ovarian cysts or tumors & to assess size Uterus to assess size 5-Vaginal smear for pyknotic index A simple method of assessing the level of estrogen stimulation Result is expressed in the form of % of basal , parabasal & superficial cells The greater the % of superficial cells the greater the estrogen effect

TREATMENT OF CPP
Purpose of treatment To gain normal adult height (Pt with CPP will have an ultimately shortened adult height) Amelioration of the psychosocial consequences of size unrealistic adult expectations
Who should be treated? Pt. with early puberty (<6Y) , accelrated growth & advanced skeletal age should be treated, (bone age >2Y>chronologic age. Menarche <8Y Pt. with early onset but without indication that puberty is advancing should be followed up

TREATMENT OF CPP
1-THE TREATMENT OF CHOICE IS A GnRH ANALOGUE GnRH agonists (zoladex) bind to GnRH receptors ( competitive inhibition ) down regulation of receptor function gonadotropin secretion inhibition of the HPO axis estrogen secretion regression of the manifestation of puberty The goal of therapy is complete suppression of gonadotropin secretion prepubertal GnRH stimulation test result Adult Ht of Rx pt. > utreated Adult Ht is related to skeletal age at the onset of Rx Adult Ht of Rx pt. is still < target Ht / predicted Ht

TREATMENT OF CPP
Rx is continued until the progress of puberty is age appropriate Best statural outcome pt. treated until bone age 12 -12.5 years Growth hormone may be added to Rx After discontinuation of Rx resumption of puberty occurs & precedes at a normal pace Side effects: local injection reaction & sterile abscess 2-Medroxyprogestrone acetate Used in the past Supress the progression of puberty & menses NO effect on skeletal maturation & adult height

PSYCHOSOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF PRECOCITY

1-Children with PP are taller & appear older than their peers unrealistic expectation from parents , teachers & others child will be under stress 2-They perceive them selves as different however this does not have any long term effect & they do well psychologically 3-Sexual maturity at an immature age make them vulnerable to be victims of sexual abuse