Abstract
Extract: Methods developed in this laboratory permit measurement of the androgens, testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (D), and androstenedione (Δ) on a 10-ml sample of plasma. We have determined concentrations of the unconjugated androgens (T, Δ, D) as well as of the sulfates of dehydroepiandrosterone (DS) and androsterone (AS) in the plasma of 85 healthy children of both sexes from birth through the age of 20 years. Our results are shown and summarized, along with those of other investigators.
Testosterone was elevated in both sexes in the newborn as compared with the 1-8-year-old group. In contrast, sulfated androgens, with one exception, were undetectable early in life. In males, there was a marked rise in all androgens, especially T, in the 9-18-year-old group. The increase in plasma androgens occurred before clinical manifestations of increased androgens became evident. In females, there was only a modest increase in plasma androgens in the 9-18-year-old group except in the case of A which did not change. The greatest increases were in D, DS and AS. This is the first report of unconjugated androgen concentrations in the adolescent female.
Speculation: Measurement of the plasma androgens will aid in evaluation of children with sexual infantilism or sexual precocity. The prepubertal rise in plasma testosterone in males may be accompanied by a higher level of plasma protein binding than that which is found after puberty becomes evident.
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Boon, D., Keenan, R., Slaunwhite, W. et al. Conjugated and Unconjugated Plasma Androgens in Normal Children. Pediatr Res 6, 111–118 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197202000-00004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197202000-00004