Hormonal profile of puberty in South Australian children I

Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) concentrations in 118 boys aged 8 to 17.9 years were related to chronological age (CA), bone age (BA), genital development (G1–5+), pubic hair development (PH1–5 +) and mean testicular volume (MTV). A progressive rise in serum FSH, LH and T was noted in relation to CA, BA and all pubertal parameters studied. FSH showed an approximate twofold increase, LH an eight to tenfold increase and T a fourfold increase from pre-puberty through to full adult maturity. The FSH/LH ratio decreased with advancing CA, BA and pubertal development.     

Serum gonadotropins and estradiol levels in Turkish pubertal girls

Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E₂) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 37 healthy Turkish pubertal girls. The data show that FSH levels significantly increased from stage 2 to 3, and tented to plateau during stages 3,4 and 5, and LH and estradiol levels constantly rises with advances in sexual development and significantly correlates with pubertal stages. When the serum FSH level was compared in pre and postmenarcheal girls of the same age the level was almost identical. Adversely, LH and estradiol levels were higher in postmenarcheal girls than in premenarcheal girls.     

SERUM PROLACTIN, FSH AND LH DURING PUBERTY IN GIRLS AND BOYS

ABSTRACT. Serum prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were determined in 200 girls and 80 boys. The boys have been examined on three occasions at one-year intervals and the girls twice at 1.5-year intervals. In girls, serum FSH rapidly increased in the youngest age groups (7.5–11.5 years), whereas in boys, the increase took place later and the first significant increase was seen between age groups 9.5 and 12.5 years. In girls, a rise in serum LH took place later than that of FSH (between 10.5 and 11.5 years), and LH peaked at 13.0–13.5 years. In boys, the timing in the changes of serum LH closely resembled that of FSH. The girls displayed a significant increase in serum prolactin between 7.5 and 8.5 years, and this was followed by a slow progressive increase. In the group of boys, serum prolactin did not show any significant changes. In girls, there was a correlation between serum LH and body weight, as well as calculated fat amount and body fat percentage early in puberty. There was no correlation between serum LH and chronological or bone age in this age group, which suggests that the correlation found is not due to age-related parallel phenomena.     

Normoprolactinemia in boys with marked gynecomastia

Pubertal gynecomastia normally occurs as a transient phenomenon of several months duration, whereas marked pubertal gynecomastia (more than 6 cm in diameter) may persist into aduldhood. In the present study the possible involvement of prolactin (PRL) secretion in the development of marked pubertal gynecomastia was investigated. The diurnal variations of PRL, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as the basal values of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E₂) were determined in 5 pubertal boys with marked gynecomastia and in 5 age-matched controls. Mean age of all patients was 14.4 years. The pubertal development was classified as P 3–4.In comparison to controls, boys with marked gynecomastia revealed no differences in basal values of PRL, LH and FSH, as well as in peak values of all hormones during sleep. The response of PRL, LH and FSH to LHRH/TRH stimulation was normal for pubertal age in both groups. In comparison to controls, decreased mean plasma T levels (P<0.05) and slightly increased E₂ levels (P<0.05) were found in boys with marked gynecomastia. The E₂/T ratio was also higher in boys with gynecomastia (P<0.005).These data suggest that prolactin, a hormone which may be increased in galactorrhea, is not involved in the development of marked pubertal gynecomastia in boys. The above findings suggest that slightly elevated day-time E₂ levels may be involved in the development of female-appearing breasts in pubertal boys.     

Elevation of serum luteinizing hormone levels during hydrocortisone treatment in infant girls with 21-hydroxylase deficiency

During the first months of postnatal life serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in girls are lower than in boys. The mechanism of this sex difference is not known. In order to study the possible influence of high levels of androgens and other adrenal steroids on serum gonadotropins during the first months of life, nine girls with salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), mean ± SD age 17.1 ± 7.52 days at diagnosis, were studied before and during oral hydrocortisone replacement therapy for 45.7 ± 29.8 days. A control group of 16 girls (C1) and 15 boys (C2), mean ages 41.7 ± 33.6 and 59.3 ± 43.3 days, respectively, was also studied. Serum LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined by enzymoimmunoassay in the presence of one monoclonal and one polyclonal antibody. In treated girls with CAH, mean ± SD serum LH (3.49 ± 82 IU1^?1) was significantly higher than in C1 (0.47 ± 0.38) p < 0.02, and similar to C2 (2.52 ± 1.74), while mean ± SD serum FSH (3.72 ± 1.78 IU1^?1) was not different from C1 (6.57 ± 5.23). The mean ± SD serum FSH/serum LH ratio (2.53 ± 1.44) was lower than in C1 (14.9 ± 13.6) and similar to C2 (1.60 ± 1.69). These data suggest that high levels of foetal and/or perinatal adrenal steroids, probably androgens, might modulate gonadotropin secretion after the neonatal period. The fact that, after adrenal steroid suppression, serum LH and the serum FSH/serum LH ratio in these infant girls with CAH were similar to that of control boys suggests that foetal or perinatal androgenic steroids have an effect on the control of LH secretion that persists after androgen withdrawal.     

Serum prolactin, FSH and LH during puberty in girls and boys.

Serum prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were determined in 200 girls and 80 boys. The boys have been examined on three occasions at one-year intervals and the girls twice at 1.5-year intervals. In girls, serum FSH rapidly increased in the youngest age groups (7.5-11.5 years), whereas in boys, the increase took place later and the first significant increase was seen between age groups 9.5 and 12.5 years. In girls, a rise in serum LH took place later than that of FSH (between 10.5 and 11.5 years), and LH peaked at 13.0-13.5 years. In boys, the timing in the changes of serum LH closely resembled that of FSH. The girls displayed a significant increase in serum prolactin between 7.5 and 8.5 years, and this was followed by a slow progressive increase. In the group of boys, serum prolactin did not show any significant changes. In girls, there was a correlation between serum LH and body weight, as well as calculated fat amount and body fat percentage early in puberty. There was no correlation between serum LH and chronological or bone age in this age group, which suggests that the correlation found is not due to age-related parallel phenomena.     

Relationship of somatomedin-C concentration to bone age in boys with constitutional delay of growth

Serum somatomedin-C (Sm-C) levels increase sharply during puberty, leading to difficulty in the interpretation of Sm-C values obtained from children who exhibit a discrepancy between chronological age (CA) and pubertal development. To evaluate the utility of assessing Sm-C levels on the basis of bone age (BA), we measured serum Sm-C levels in 44 boys with constitutional delay of growth (CDG). Levels of Sm-C were compared with the normative data of the Nichols Institute Reference Laboratories (NIRL), Los Angeles, by age category, substituting BA for CA. We found the mean Sm-C level in boys with CDG to be lower than that for NIRL normal subjects in each age category for both CA and BA, but the regression curve for Sm-C levels based on BA more closely approximated the NIRL regression curve than did the curve based on CA. The rise in Sm-C levels observed in NIRL normal subjects between CA 13 to 14 years is delayed in boys with CDG until CA 15 to 17 years only when a correction for BA is not made. We conclude that in boys with CDG, Sm-C levels should be interpreted on the basis of BA rather than CA, especially during the peripubertal period. The observation of blunted Sm-C levels in all age categories, even when BA was used, suggests that short children with presumed CDG may be at high risk for a "nonclassic" form of growth hormone deficiency.     

Longitudinal gonadal function after bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia during childhood

Total body irradiation and high-dose chemotherapy, applied as a preparatory regimen for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), are particularly hazardous to the gonads and, in addition, can impair hypothalamo pituitary-gonadal control. Longitudinal data on pubertal development and gonadal function in these patients are limited. Twenty-one ALL patients (15 males, 6 females) who had successfully undergone allogeneic BMT before puberty (age at BMT: 3.4-12.3 yr) were followed up in University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany over 2 (minimum) to 14 (maximum) years. Tanner development scores, serum testosterone and estradiol, basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were analyzed. During pubertal age, the levels of FSH and LH rose consecutively, resulting in noticeably elevated serum concentrations in 100% and 89%, respectively, of boys older than 14 years and in 75% and 75%, respectively, of girls older than 13 years. Nevertheless, pubertal development has been normal in all patients except in one boy and two girls who required substitution with sexual steroids, as timely puberty (i.e. boys < 14 years, girls < 13 years) did not start. In males with normal puberty, testosterone levels, however, were found to be low-normal. In conclusion, after BMT preceded by total body irradiation for childhood ALL, gonadal function is impaired. Even if normal pubertal development occurs, deficiencies in long-term endocrine function cannot be ruled out. In view of the high FSH levels, the prognosis for fertility is doubtful.     

A study of anthropomorphic and biochemical characteristics in girls with central precocious puberty and thelarche variant

BACKGROUND: Premature thelarche in later childhood may progress to central precocious puberty (CPP), which does not spontaneously resolve. Thelarche variant (TV) is a slowly progressive variant of precocious puberty. AIM: To determine and compare levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and anthropomorphic measures in girls with TV and CPP. SUBJECTS: Prepubertal controls and girls with TV and CPP. METHODS: Chronological and bone age, weight, height, BMI, height velocity (HV), and serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3, leptin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH) levels were assessed. RESULTS: Serum IGF-I levels, HV and IGF-I/ IGFBP-3 ratio were significantly higher in girls with CPP compared to both controls and girls with TV. IGFBP-3 values for bone age (IGFBP-3BA) were significantly higher in the TV group compared to both controls and girls with CPP. FSH and LH concentrations were significantly higher in the CPP group compared to TV. CONCLUSION: HV, IGF-I, LH and FSH levels and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio are elevated in girls with CPP compared to those with TV.     

Lead exposure and its association with pubertal development in school-age Egyptian children: Pilot study

Background:  The aim of the present study was to determine blood lead levels in a group of Egyptian school-age children and assess its relationship to pubertal development.
Methods:  Forty-one children were recruited from high- and low-pollution areas in Cairo, Egypt. Sexual maturation was evaluated using Tanner score. Measurements of blood lead and serum levels of follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol in girls and testosterone in boys were performed for included subjects.
Results:  A total of 51.2% of children had high blood lead levels (≥10 µg/dL). Boys with high lead levels had delayed pubertal maturation compared to those with low lead levels. Breast staging of sexual maturation was significantly delayed in girls with high lead levels. FSH and LH were significantly reduced in children of both sexes, and testosterone levels were reduced in boys with high lead.
Conclusion:  These findings consolidate the cumulative medical evidence of the deleterious effect of high lead levels on pubertal development, possibly through the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis.     

女童性早熟与血清瘦素、类胰岛素样生长因子-1水平及脑电图关系的研究

目的 探讨特发性中枢性性早熟(ICPP)与单纯性乳房发育(SPT)女童血清瘦素、类胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)水平、脑电图异常率及这些指标对真性性早熟的诊断价值。方法 乳房早发育为主患儿中特发性中枢性早熟18例,单纯性乳房发育12例,用放射免疫法和酶标免疫法测定两组血清瘦素、IGF-1及行脑电图检查。结果 ICPP组血清瘦素、IGF-1水平明显高于SPT组(P均<0.001)。其脑电图异常率明显高于SPT组(P<0.01)。血清瘦素与IGF-1之间呈明显正相关(r=0.668 P<0.001)。血清瘦素与黄体生成素(LH)或LH/卵泡刺激素(FSH)间无相关性。结论 血清瘦素、IGF-1、脑电图可作为真性性早熟的早期诊断指标之一。     

正常青春期少女及特发性中枢性性早熟女孩生长激素结合蛋白、性激素与生长

本文对41例青春期女孩及30例特发性中枢性性早熟(ICPP)女孩。观察其身高、体重、身高增长速度、骨龄与生长激素结合蛋白(GHBP)、雌二醇(E_2)的相关关系,结果示GHBP在青春各期间无显著差异,GHBP与身高生长速度(GV)、身高标准差分(HtsDs)、体重指数(BMI)呈正相关,GHBP与E_2、年龄(CA)、骨龄(BA)无相关关系。正常青春少女与ICPP女孩相应青春期血清GHBP无明显差异,ICPP女孩GHBP与HtsDs及BMI呈正相关关系,与E_2、CA及BA无相关关系。提示正常青春少女及ICPP女孩的生长,在GH轴调控途径上,至少在生长激素受体(GHR)/GHBP水平是相同的。GHBP受营养的正性影响,不受年龄、骨龄影响。     

Long-term treatment of central precocious puberty with an intranasal LHRH analogue: control of pituitary function by urinary gonadotropins

Daily subcutaneous doses of luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone (LHRH) analogues are a well-established therapy for gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty. Reports on intranasally administered analogues, however, are controversial. We studied the effect of intranasal d-Ser (TBU)⁶-LHRH (BUS) on growth rate, skeletal maturation, and urinary gonadotropins in five girls and one boy with central precocious puberty (CPP) who had been treated for 1.4–2.3 years (mean 1.9). Because of the potential antifertility effects of LHRH analogues, testicular histology was analysed in the boy. In the five children with accelerated growth, the bone age-related velocity of heigh gain decreased from 10.58 ±2.77 to 5.82±1.8 cm/year (means±SD, P<0.01), and the ratio of change in bone age to change in chronological age fell below 1. Basal luteinizing hormone (LH), and LHRH-stimulated LH and follicle stimulating-hormone, at pubertal levels before treatment, decreased significantly in all children, normalizing in four (P<0.04). During therapy, pituitary function was best controlled by urinary LH, which correlated with clinical data. After 13 months of therapy, testicular histology showed degenerated Sertoli cells, and absence of B-and Ap-spermatogonia and of primary spermatocytes in the boy. We conclude that: (1) Efficient long-term suppression of central precocious puberty — including accelerated growth and skeletal maturation — can be maintained by intranasal dosage of BUS. (2) Urinary LH reflects pituitary function and proves to be a reliable guide to adjustment of the LHRH-analogue dose regimen. (3) Testicular atrophy after 1 year of continuous therapy with high doses of BUS raises the question of potential infertility in boys with precocious puberty treated with potent analogues of the LHRH.Abbreviations CPP central precocious puberty - LH luteinizing hormone - FSH tollicle-stimulating hormone - LHRH luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone - LHRH_A LHRH analogue - BUS the analogue d-Ser[TBU]⁶-LHRH (Buserelin), HOE 766) - BA bone age - BA/ CA ratio of change in bone age to change in chronological age - SDS standard deviation score - T urinary testosterone - E2 urinary oestradiol     

Repeated circadian growth hormone,luteinizing hormone,and follicle-stimulating hormone in children: Influence of 9-alpha-fluorohydrocortisone

Growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in plasma of 5 children at different pubertal stages and suffering from moderate orthostatic complaints, were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Parameters for secretory capacity were arginine loading and circadian hormonal patterns in hourly intervals from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and in half-hourly intervals from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. before and after 6 weeks treatment with 9-alpha-fluorohydrocortisone (9-alpha-F, Astonin-H, Fa. Merck, Darmstadt, 0.1–0.2 mg/day). Plasma GH during arginine tests and in circadian levels remained unchanged, but circadian LH showed a consistent slight rise in all children.With pubertal development, magnitude and timing of GH peaks increased in boys, and rather decreased in the two girls toward late puberty. Episodic fluctuation of LH and FSH were more marked during sleep, and increased in the three boys as puberty advanced. Similar intraindividual patterns for GH and LH, but not for FSH were noted in 4 children. Timing of GH and LH peaks appeared to be correlated. An intrinsic hereditary long-term regulatory principle is discussed.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. K. H. Schäfer on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴抑制程度对中枢性性早熟女童成年预测身高的影响

目的 研究促性腺激素释放激素类似物(GnRHa)治疗过程中下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴(HPGA)抑制程度与中枢性性早熟(CPP)女童成年预测身高(PAH)的关系,以指导临床个体化调节GnRHa 治疗剂量。方法 收集75 例CPP 女童的临床资料,记录GnRHa 治疗的不同时间点身高、骨龄(BA)、子宫卵巢容积及LH、FSH 峰值、E2 水平,计算各时间点PAH,分析PAH 改善(ΔPAH=PAH-靶身高)的情况及其与HPGA 抑制的关系,并采用阈值效应分析寻找ΔPAH 的最佳HPGA 抑制范围。结果 GnRHa 治疗后PAH 较治疗初期有明显改善。ΔPAH 与ΔBA 呈负相关;治疗24 月时ΔPAH 与LH 呈负相关。将子宫容积控制在2.3~3.0 mL 之间,LH 控制在0.8 IU/L 以下,FSH 控制在2.4 IU/L 以下对延缓BA 的增长及改善PAH 有利。结论 GnRHa 治疗能改善CPP 女童的PAH。选择合适的GnRHa 治疗剂量,将子宫容积、LH、FSH 控制在一定范围内,有利于延缓BA 及改善PAH。     

血清促性腺激素基础值在性早熟女童诊断中的价值

目的：探讨血清促性腺激素基础值在性早熟女童诊断中的价值。方法：以促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）激发试验结果作为性早熟诊断的金标准,将77例性早熟女童分为中枢性性早熟（CPP,n=45）和单纯性乳房早发育（IPT,n=32）两组,分别比较两组黄体生成素（LH）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）基础值及LH/FSH比值的差异;并采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析LH、FSH基础值及LH/FSH比值诊断性早熟的准确性。结果：CPP组患儿血清基础LH、FSH水平及LH/FSH比值均高于IPT组（P<0.01）;两组患儿LH基础值与GnRH激发试验中LH峰值存在正相关;LH、FSH和LH/FSH比值诊断CPP的曲线下面积（AUC）进行比较,AUCLH大于AUCFSH和AUCLH/FSH（均P＜0.05）,而AUCFSH和AUCLH/FSH之间比较差异无统计学意义。当血清LH基础值为0.62 IU/L时,敏感度为0.778,特异度为0.906,Youden指数最大（0.684）;当切割值为1.5 IU/L时,诊断敏感度下降为0.311,但特异度为1.0。结论：血清LH基础值诊断CPP的价值优于LH/FSH比值及FSH基础值,可用于性早熟女童门诊的初步诊断,但存在一定的误诊和漏诊率;对于LH基础值大于1.5 IU/L的患儿,结合临床表现可明确诊断,无需另行GnRH激发试验。     

Hormonal changes in thalassaemia major

Patients with severe thalassaemia major suffer endocrine and other abnormalities before their eventual death from iron overload due to repeated blood transfusions. The endocrine status of 31 thalassaemic patients aged 2-5 to 23 years was investigated. Exact data were available on the rate and duration of blood transfusion in all of them and in many the liver iron concentration was also known. Although the patients were euthyroid, the mean serum thyroxine level was significantly lower, and the mean thyrotrophic hormone level significantly higher, compared with the values found in normal children. Forty oral glucose tolerance tests with simultaneous insulin levels were performed in 19 children, of whom 5 developed symptomatic diabetes and one had impaired tolerance. Previous tests on all 6 patients were available and some showed raised insulin levels possibly due to insulin resistance. 2 patients had clinical hypoparathyroidism and are described. The parathyroid hormone levels determined by radioimmunoassay in 25 patients were below the mean for the age group in all and outside the reference range in 16. Nonfasting plasma calcium levels were not reduced. Puberty was delayed in some patients. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) measured in urine from 7 girls and 5 boys showed considerable variation. In the boys there was an overall tendency for FSH and LH excretion to be low with regard to age, but with respect to puberty rating FSH exretions were normal or low and LH normal or raised. The girls showed a tendency for LH but not FSH excretion to be raised in relation to puberty rating. The severity of the endocrine changes was related to the degree of iron loading and is discussed in relation to previous work in which the iron loading has rarely been accurately indicated nor parathyroid status assessed.     

Two-year results of treatment with depot leuprolide acetate for central precocious puberty.

We report results from 2 years of therapy with the long-acting form of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog leuprolide acetate, which was previously reported in short-term trials to be efficacious in the treatment of central precocious puberty. Thirteen girls and two boys, aged 1.9 to 9.7 years, who satisfied clinical criteria including GnRH-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) greater than 10 IU/L (mean radioimmunoassay LH, 29.1 +/- 5.54 IU/L), received depot leuprolide, 6 to 15 mg intramuscularly every 4 weeks. Estradiol (or testosterone), insulin-like growth factor I, and GnRH-stimulated gonadotropins were obtained at baseline, at 2 months, and at 6-month intervals with bone age determinations. Pubertal progression ceased in all patients, and menses did not occur. Mean increase in height during therapy was 5.77 +/- 2.0 cm/yr. Predicted adult height increased over baseline by 5.52 +/- 1.16 cm at 18 months. Mean estradiol values in the girls declined from 3.3 +/- 0.6 to 0.60 +/- 0.03 ng/dl, with no overlap of baseline and treatment values. The mean basal LH value was unchanged by therapy; mean basal and peak LH values for all follow-up GnRH stimulation tests were 4.05 +/- 0.57 and 4.95 +/- 0.70 IU/L, respectively. Basal and peak follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values were suppressed from 4.10 +/- 0.62 and 10.06 +/- 1.34 IU/L, respectively, to generally undetectable levels (< 1). Comparison with untreated control patients suggested that basal LH did not completely return to prepubertal levels, whereas FSH levels were suppressed below prepubertal levels. Estradiol, FSH, and LH levels reached their nadir by 2 months; in contrast, mean serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I progressively declined from +0.57 +/- 0.19 SD score to -0.06 +/- 0.22 SD score at 24 months. Two girls were withdrawn from the study because of reactions at injection sites, with apparent sterile abscess formation in one patient. This study provides evidence that (1) long-term treatment with depot leuprolide is characterized by immediate and sustained laboratory and clinical suppression, (2) GnRH-stimulated LH and random FSH and estradiol concentrations are useful laboratory measures of efficacy, and (3) the progressive increase in predicted adult height is temporally associated with decreased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I and striking deceleration of bone age advancement.     

Children with sickle cell disease: growth and gonadal function after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The aim of this study is to describe the growth, pubertal development, and gonadal function of a cohort of 30 sickle cell disease children who underwent bone marrow transplantation. They all received the standard pretransplant conditioning regimen of busulfan (14 or 16 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg). Growth was normal both before and after transplant. Seven out of 10 girls had severe ovarian failure and requirement for estrogen replacement. Three out of 10 girls recovered some ovarian function posttransplant, with spontaneous pubertal development, menses, and 1 successful normal pregnancy. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) serum levels were very high during spontaneous puberty and slowly normalized thereafter in these 3 patients. The 3 girls with ovarian function recovery differed from the 7 others by the lower busulphan dose of the conditioning regimen they received (14 rather than 16 mg/kg). All boys showed spontaneous pubertal development. However, most of them had small testis and elevated serum FSH levels, reflecting germinal epithelium damage. Testosterone level was low normal and luteinizing hormone elevated, reflecting Leydig cell insufficiency. In conclusion, 7/10 girls had complete gonadal failure and most of the boys had spontaneous puberty but germinal epithelial failure. Serum FSH levels showed important variations over time in the same patient.     

Significance of the determination of gonadotropic pituitary hormones in different types of autonomic vascular dystonia

Measurements were made of the content of gonadotropic pituitary hormones (prolactin/PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol in 151 children aged 11 to 15 years. Of these, there were 58 healthy children (24 boys and 34 girls), 51 children (25 boys and 26 girls) with vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) of the vagotonic type and 42 children (22 boys and 20 girls) with VVD of the sympathotonic type. It has been established that in VVD children, alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal system agreed with the general biological reactions of the body, while deviations in the LH and FSH levels as well as in estradiol got stabilized by 13 to 15 years. A positive correlation has been revealed between the high blood PRL level and the high tone of the sympathetic nervous system. In view of this fact the blood PRL content can serve an early diagnostic test for recognizing hypersympathicotonia in VVD children.