Growth hormone secretory dynamics in children with precocious puberty

Judith Levine Ross, Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, Kevin Barnes, D. Lynn Loriaux, Gordon B. Cutler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigated whether an increase in growth hormone secretion contributed to the growth spurt in children with precocious puberty by measuring the 24-hour profile of serum growth hormone in 51 patients with central precocious puberty. Girls with central precocious puberty had significantly greater mean 24-hour levels of growth hormone in comparison with normal prepubertal girls (5.1±0.5 SEM vs 3.4±0.3 ng/mL, P<0.0005). Mean 24-hour growth hormone levels did not differ significantly between boys with central precocious puberty and normal prepubertal boys (4.4±1.2 vs 3.0±0.4 ng/mL). Serum somatomedin C levels were significantly correlated with mean 24-hour growth hormone levels in the girls only. Height age advancement (expressed as height age/chronologic age) was significantly correlated with mean 24-hour growth hormone levels in both boys and girls with central precocious puberty. We conclude that spontaneous 24-hour growth hormone secretion in girls with precocious puberty is greater than that of normal prepubertal girls and may mediate at least in part the increased growth rate in this disorder.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)369-372
Number of pages4
JournalThe Journal of pediatrics
Volume110
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Growth hormone secretory dynamics in children with precocious puberty'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this