Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2013 Dec;30(2):90-94.

The Utility of Basal Serum Luteinizing Hormone Levels for Screening Central Precocious Puberty in Girls

• Ju JK
• Lee HL
• Lee YA
• Chung SK
• Kwak MJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to examine if basal luteinizing hormone (LH) levels could be useful for screening central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.
METHODS
A total of 90 girls under the age of 8 years were included in this study. They underwent the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test at Good Gang-An Hospital from March 2008 to December 2012 for evaluation of premature sexual development. Patients were classified into two groups: the pubertal response group of patients who had 5 IU/L peak LH levels in the GnRH stimulation test, and the prepubertal response group of patients who had LH levels <5 IU/L. Chronological and bone ages, height, weight, body mass index, gonadotropin response to GnRH stimulation, and basal levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol were studied in both groups. The relationship between basal LH and peak-stimulated LH was evaluated using Spearman's correlation. To determine the optimal cut-off values of basal LH levels for differentiating between two groups, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed.
RESULTS
When the correlation between basal LH levels and peak LH after GnRH stimulation was analyzed in all subjects (N=90), basal LH levels had a statistically significant positive correlation with peak stimulated LH levels (rs=0.493, p<0.001). The cut-off level of optimal basal LH was 0.1 IU/L, according to the ROC curves. Its sensitivity was 73.3%, and its specificity was 77.8%.
CONCLUSION
The study results showed that serum basal LH levels are useful for screening CPP in girls.

Keyword

Central precocious puberty; Luteinizing hormone; Gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test

MeSH Terms

Body Weight
Estradiol
Female*
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Gonadotropins
Humans
Lutein*
Luteinizing Hormone*
Mass Screening*
Puberty, Precocious*
ROC Curve
Sexual Development
Estradiol
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Gonadotropins
Lutein
Luteinizing Hormone