Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2019 Jun;24(2):124-128. 10.6065/apem.2019.24.2.124.

Thyroid function in girls with central precocious puberty

• Jung G
• Oh SB
• Lee WY
• Kim HR
• Nam HK
• Kim JH
• Rhie YJ
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2452089
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2019.24.2.124

Abstract

PURPOSE
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for central precocious puberty (CPP). Recently, elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was reported in obese youth. However, few data regarding the relationship between CPP and TSH are available. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function in girls with CPP and the relationship between CPP and serum TSH concentration.
METHODS
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 1,247 girls aged between 6.0 and 8.9 years who had undergone a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test to determine the presence of puberty were studied. Subjects were classified into CPP (n=554) and non-CPP (n=693) groups according to the results of the GnRH stimulation test. Characteristics and laboratory data of the CPP and non-CPP groups were compared and correlations between those characteristics and laboratory data and TSH concentration were evaluated. Serum TSH concentration in the CPP group was higher than that of the non-CPP group (3.19±1.55 mIU/L vs. 2.58±1.34 mIU/L, P<0.001).
RESULTS
Serum free thyroxine (fT4) concentration in the CPP group was notably lower than that of the non-CPP group (1.38±0.14 ng/dL vs. 1.44±0.18 ng/dL, P<0.001). Across all subjects, 149 girls (11.9%) had hyperthyrotropinemia. The prevalence of hyperthyrotropinemia was higher in the CPP group compared to the non-CPP group (15.7% vs. 8.9%, P<0.001). TSH concentrations were positively correlated with age, height, weight, BMI, bone age, bone age advance, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 standard deviation score, basal luteinizing hormone (LH), peak LH and basal follicle-stimulation hormone. TSH concentrations were negatively correlated with fT4. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age (β=0.548, P<0.001) and peak LH (β=0.019, P=0.008) were independently associated with serum TSH concentration.
CONCLUSIONS
Hyperthyrotropinemia in girls with CPP tends to be associated with pubertal LH elevation. In conclusion, pubertal onset may be associated with thyroid function.

Keyword

Precocious puberty; Thyroid hormone; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female*
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Linear Models
Luteinizing Hormone
Obesity
Prevalence
Puberty
Puberty, Precocious*
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Thyroid Gland*
Thyrotropin
Thyroxine
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Luteinizing Hormone
Thyrotropin
Thyroxine

Reference

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