Abstract
Evaluation of gonadotropin secretion in prepubertal children with hypopituitarism yields little information and it is often impossible to predict whether a patient will undergo pubertal changes. In normal children, an increase in serum levels of DHEAS precedes pubertal development by several years. Whether this hormone plays any role in the pubertal process of children with hypopituitarism remains unclear. We have measured serum levels of DHEAS sequentially (prospectively and retrospectively over a 7 year period) in 17 patients with hypopituitarism (idiopathic=12) who are currently over 15 years of age. The levels were compared to those obtained in 82 normal children (6 to 18 years of age). Patients could be divided into 2 distinct groups, one (11 patients) with very low or undetectable levels and a second group (6 patients) with normal levels of DHEAS for their bone age. None of the patients from group I entered puberty and all are now receiving replacement therapy. All patients from group II developed puberty spontaneously (Stages II to IV). Retrospectively, all patients in group II had had normal levels of DHEAS for their bone age and the levels had increased gradually with advancement of bone age. These data indicate that serum levels of DHEAS may be utilized to predict which children with hypopituitarism will undergo spontaneous puberty.
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Rezvani, I., Digeorge, A., Schindler, A. et al. 440 SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE (DHEAS) AS A PREDICTOR OF PUBERTY IN CHILDREN WITH HYPOPITUITARISM. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 513 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00451
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00451