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  • Abstract: adrenarche x
  • Abstract: amenorrhoea x
  • Abstract: fertility x
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  • Abstract: Kallmann x
  • Abstract: Klinefelter x
  • Abstract: menarche x
  • Abstract: menopause x
  • Abstract: puberty x
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Panagiotis Anagnostis Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

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Irene Lambrinoudaki 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece

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John C Stevenson National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

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Dimitrios G Goulis Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is of major concern in women entering menopause. The changing hormonal milieu predisposes them to increased CVD risk, due to a constellation of risk factors, such as visceral obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, dysregulation in glucose homeostasis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and arterial hypertension. However, an independent association of menopause per se with increased risk of CVD events has only been proven for early menopause (<45 years). Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) ameliorates most of the CVD risk factors mentioned above. Transdermal estrogens are the preferable regimen, since they do not increase triglyceride concentrations and they are not associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE). Although administration of MHT should be considered on an individual basis, MHT may reduce CVD morbidity and mortality, if commenced during the early postmenopausal period (<60 years or within ten years since the last menstrual period). In women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), MHT should be administered at least until the average age of menopause (50–52 years). MHT is contraindicated in women with a history of VTE and is not currently recommended for the sole purpose of CVD prevention. The risk of breast cancer associated with MHT is generally low and is mainly conferred by the progestogen. Micronized progesterone and dydrogesterone are associated with lower risk compared to other progestogens.

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A Bergougnoux Service de Génétique Moléculaire et de Cytogénétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

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L Gaspari Département d'Endocrinologie et de Gynécologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
INSERM Unité 1203 (DEFE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

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M Soleirol Département de Pediatrie, CHU Nîmes, France, Université de Montpellier Faculté de Médecine Montpellier-Nîmes, Montpellier, France

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N Servant Service de Génétique Moléculaire et de Cytogénétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

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S Soskin Département de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hautepierre de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

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S Rossignol Département de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hautepierre de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

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K Wagner-Mahler Département de Pédiatrie, CHU Nice, Hôpitaux Pédiatriques de Nice CHU-Lenval, Nice, France

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J Bertherat Department of Endocrinology, French Reference Center for Rare Adrenal Disorders, Hôpital Cochin, Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Assitance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France

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C Sultan Département d'Endocrinologie et de Gynécologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

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N Kalfa Department of Pediatric Urological Surgery, French Reference Center for abnormalities of Genital Development (DevGen), CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France

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F Paris Service de Génétique Moléculaire et de Cytogénétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
Département d'Endocrinologie et de Gynécologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
INSERM Unité 1203 (DEFE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

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Although hyperandrogenism is a frequent cause of consultation in adolescent girls, more severe forms with virilization must lead to suspicion of an adrenal or ovarian tumor. However, they may also reveal a 46,XY disorder of sexual development (DSD). Here, we describe four adolescent girls referred for pubertal virilization and in whom we diagnosed a 46,XY DSD. We performed gene mutation screening by Sanger sequencing (all patients) and by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in patient #4. We identified new heterozygous NR5A1 gene variants in patients #1 and #2 and a homozygous SRD5A2 gene deletion in patient #3. Patient #4 received a diagnosis of complete androgen insensitivity in childhood; however, due the unusual pubertal virilization, we completed the gene analysis by NGS that revealed two heterozygous HSD17B3 variants. This work underlines the importance of considering the hypothesis of 46,XY DSD in adolescent girls with unexplained virilization at puberty.

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Heike Hoyer-Kuhn Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

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Angela Huebner Department of Paediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Anette Richter-Unruh University Children’s Hospital Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

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Markus Bettendorf University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

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Tilman Rohrer University Children’s Hospital Homburg, Homburg, Germany

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Klaus Kapelari University Children’s Hospital Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

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Stefan Riedl Department of Pediatric, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
St.Anna Kinderspital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Klaus Mohnike Department of Biometrics, Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

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Helmuth-Günther Dörr University Children’s Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

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Friedrich-Wilhelm Roehl Department of Biometrics, Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

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Katharina Fink Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, ZIBMT, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

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Reinhard W Holl Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, ZIBMT, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

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Joachim Woelfle University Children’s Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

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Objective

Treatment of classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is necessary to compensate for glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid deficiencies and to suppress androgen excess. Hydrocortisone (HC) is preferred in growing children with classic CAH but recommendations regarding dosage/administration are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate HC dosing in children with CAH in relation to chronological age, sex, and phenotype based on a multicenter CAH registry.

Design

The CAH registry was initiated in 1997 by the AQUAPE in Germany. On December 31st 2018, data from 1571 patients were included.

Methods

A custom-made electronic health record software is used at the participating centers. Pseudonymized data are transferred for central analysis. Parameters were selected based on current guidelines. Descriptive analyses and linear regression models were implemented with SAS 9.4.

Results

We identified 1288 patients on exclusive treatment with hydrocortisone three times daily (604 boys; median age 7.2 years; 817 salt-wasting phenotype, 471 simple-virilizing phenotype). The mean (lower-upper quartiles) daily HC dose (mg/m² body surface area) was 19.4 (18.9–19.8) for patients <3 months (n = 329), 15.0 (14.6–15.3) for age ≥3–12 months (n = 463), 14.0 (13.7–14.3) for age 1–5.9 years (n = 745), 14.2 (14.0–14.5) for age 6 years to puberty entry (n = 669), and 14.9 (14.6–15.2) during puberty to 18 years (n = 801). Fludrocortisone was administered in 74.1% of patients with a median daily dosage of 88.8 µg.

Conclusion

Our analyses showed that still a high proportion of children are treated with HC doses higher than recommended. This evaluation provides comprehensive information on nationwide hydrocortisone substitution dosages in children with CAH underlining the benefit of systematic data within a registry to assess daily practice.

Open access
Supitcha Patjamontri Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

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Alexander Spiers MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK

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Rachel B Smith MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Imperial College London, London, UK

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Chen Shen MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK

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Jo Adaway Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

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Brian G Keevil Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

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Mireille B Toledano MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Imperial College London, London, UK

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S Faisal Ahmed Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK

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Context

Salivary androgens represent non-invasive biomarkers of puberty that may have utility in clinical and population studies.

Objective

To understand normal age-related variation in salivary sex steroids and demonstrate their correlation to pubertal development in young adolescents.

Design, setting and participants

School-based cohort study of 1495 adolescents at two time points for collecting saliva samples approximately 2 years apart.

Outcome measures

The saliva samples were analyzed for five androgens (testosterone, androstenedione (A4), 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; in addition, salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and oestradiol (OE2) were analysed by ELISA. The pubertal staging was self-reported using the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS).

Results

In 1236 saliva samples from 903 boys aged between 11 and 16 years, salivary androgens except DHEA exhibited an increasing trend with an advancing age (ANOVA, P < 0.001), with salivary testosterone and A4 concentration showing the strongest correlation (r = 0.55, P < 0.001 and r = 0.48, P < 0.001, respectively). In a subgroup analysis of 155 and 63 saliva samples in boys and girls, respectively, morning salivary testosterone concentrations showed the highest correlation with composite PDS scores and voice-breaking category from PDS self-report in boys (r = 0.75, r = 0.67, respectively). In girls, salivary DHEA and OE2 had negligible correlations with age or composite PDS scores.

Conclusion

In boys aged 11–16 years, an increase in salivary testosterone and A4 is associated with self-reported pubertal progress and represents valid non-invasive biomarkers of puberty in boys.

Open access
Henryk F Urbanski Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Kevin Mueller Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA

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Cynthia L Bethea Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Like women, old female rhesus macaques undergo menopause and show many of the same age-associated changes, including perturbed activity/rest cycles and altered circulating levels of many hormones. Previous studies showed that administration of an estrogen agonist increased activity in female monkeys, that hormone therapy (HT) increased activity in postmenopausal women and that obesity decreased activity in women. The present study sought to determine if postmenopausal activity and circulating hormone levels also respond to HT when monkeys are fed a high-fat, high-sugar Western style diet (WSD). Old female rhesus macaques were ovo-hysterectomized (OvH) to induce surgical menopause and fed a WSD for 2 years. Half of the animals received estradiol-17β (E), beginning immediately after OvH, while the other half received placebo. Animals in both groups showed an increase in body weight and a decrease in overall activity levels. These changes were associated with a rise in both daytime and nocturnal serum leptin concentrations, but there was no change in serum concentrations of either cortisol or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). These data suggest that 2 years of HT has little or no effect on locomotor activity or circadian hormone patterns in menopausal macaques fed an obesogenic diet.

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Teodoro Durá-Travé Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Department of Pediatrics, Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain
Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain

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Fidel Gallinas-Victoriano Department of Pediatrics, Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain

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María Malumbres-Chacon Department of Pediatrics, Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain

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Lotfi Ahmed-Mohamed Department of Pediatrics, Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain

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María Jesús Chueca -Guindulain Department of Pediatrics, Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain
Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain

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Sara Berrade-Zubiri Department of Pediatrics, Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain
Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdisNA), Pamplona, Spain

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Objective

The objective of this study was to analyze whether some auxological characteristics or a single basal gonadotropin measurement will be sufficient to distinguish the prepubertal from pubertal status.

Methods

Auxologycal characteristics were recorded and serum LH and FSH were measured by immunochemiluminescence assays before and after GnRH stimulation test in a sample of 241 Caucasian girls with breast budding between 6- and 8-years old. Peak LH levels higher than 5 IU/L were considered a pubertal response. Area under the curve, cut-off points, sensitivity, and specificity for auxologycal variables and basal gonadotropins levels were determined by receiver operating curves.

Results

There were no significant differences in age at onset, weight, height, BMI and height velocity between both groups. Bone age was significantly higher in pubertal girls (P < 0.05), although with limited discriminatory capacity. The sensitivity and specificity for the basal LH levels were 89 and 82%, respectively, for a cut off point of 0.1 IU/L. All girls in the pubertal group had a basal LH higher than 1.0 IU/L (positive predictive value of 100%). There was a wide overlap of basal FSH and LH/FSH ratio between prepubertal and pubertal girls.

Conclusions

Auxologycal characteristics should not be used only in the differential diagnosis between prepubertal from pubertal status in 6- to 8-year-old girls. We found a high specificity of a single basal LH sample and it would be useful for establishing the diagnosis of puberty in this age group, reducing the need for GnRH stimulation testing.

Open access
Xi Wang Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

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Qi Yu Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

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Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of letrozole in girls with progressive precocious puberty (PP) associated with McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS).

Design

Monocentric retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal study of consecutive patients.

Patients

Ten MAS patients treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between September 1999 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed; those with complications due to PP were followed.

Results

The mean age at letrozole initiation was 4.5 ± 2.6 years, while the mean duration of treatment was 3.3 ± 2.4 years. Letrozole was highly effective at decreasing the rate of skeletal maturation, with a significant decrease in the bone age-to-chronological age (BA/CA) ratio from 1.9 ± 1.1 pre-treatment to 1.5 ± 1.2 on letrozole treatment (P = 0.016). Moreover, growth velocity Z-scores declined from 0.41 ± 0.5 to −0.2 ± 0.31 with treatment (P < 0.001). Predicted adult height Z-scores increased significantly from −2.03 ± 2.33 at baseline to 1.13 ± 0.84 following treatment initiation (P = 0.029). Moreover, vaginal bleeding declined significantly on letrozole.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that letrozole may be an effective therapy in some girls with MAS, as treatment results in improved BA/CA ratio, growth velocity and predicted adult height. Possible adverse effects include nettle rash.

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Sarmistha Banerjee Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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Allison M Hayes Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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Bernard H Shapiro Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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The sexually dimorphic expression of cytochromes P450 (CYP) drug metabolizing enzymes has been reported in all species examined. These sex differences are initially expressed during puberty and are solely regulated by sex differences in the circulating growth hormone (GH) profiles. Once established, however, the different male- and female-dependent CYP isoforms are permanent and immutable, suggesting that adult CYP expression requires imprinting. Since the hormone that regulates an adult function is likely the same hormone that imprints the function, we selectively blocked GH secretion in some newborn male rats while others also received a concurrent physiologic replacement of rat GH. Rats were subsequently challenged, peripubertally, with either a masculine-like episodic GH regimen or the GH vehicle alone. The results demonstrate that episodic GH regulation of male-specific CYP2C11 and CYP3A2, as well as female-predominant CYP2C6, are dependent on developmental GH imprinting. Moreover, the induction and/or activation of major components in the signal transduction pathway regulating the expression of the principal CYP2C11 isoform is obligatorily dependent on perinatal GH imprinting without which CYP2C11 and drug metabolism would be permanently and profoundly suppressed. Since there are additional adult metabolic functions also regulated by GH, pediatric drug therapy that is known to disrupt GH secretion could unintentionally impair adult health.

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Imane Benabbad Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Eli Lilly, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

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Myriam Rosilio Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Eli Lilly, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

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Maité Tauber Department Endocrine, Bone Diseases, Genetics, Obesity, and Gynecology Unit, Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, Toulouse, France

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Emmanuel Paris BioClinica, Lyon, France

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Anne Paulsen Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Universitaire Robert-Debré, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, and Centre de Référence des Maladies Endocriniennes Rares de la Croissance, Paris, France

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Lovisa Berggren Eli Lilly and Company, Bad Homburg, Germany

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Hiren Patel Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

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Jean-Claude Carel Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Universitaire Robert-Debré, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, and Centre de Référence des Maladies Endocriniennes Rares de la Croissance, Paris, France
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Universitaire Robert-Debré, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, and Centre de Référence des Maladies Endocriniennes Rares de la Croissance, Paris, France

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the Phoenix Study Group
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Objective

There is a scarcity of data from randomised controlled trials on the association of growth hormone (GH) with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists in idiopathic short stature (ISS), although this off-label use is common. We aimed to test whether delaying pubertal progression could increase near-adult height (NAH) in GH-treated patients with ISS.

Methods

Patients with ISS at puberty onset were randomised to GH with leuprorelin (combination, n = 46) or GH alone (n = 45). NAH standard deviation score (SDS) was the primary outcome measure. The French regulatory authority requested premature discontinuation of study treatments after approximately 2.4 years; patients from France were followed for safety.

Results

Mean (s.d.) baseline height SDS was −2.5 (0.5) in both groups, increasing at 2 years to −2.3 (0.6) with combination and −1.8 (0.7) with GH alone. NAH SDS was −1.8 (0.5) with combination (n = 19) and −1.9 (0.8) with GH alone (n = 16). Treatment-emergent adverse events and bone fractures occurred more frequently with combination than GH alone.

Conclusion

Due to premature discontinuation of treatments, statistical comparison of NAH SDS between the two cohorts was not possible. During the first 2–3 years of treatment, patients treated with the combination grew more slowly than those receiving GH alone. However, mean NAH SDS was similar in the two groups. No new GH-related safety concerns were revealed. A potentially deleterious effect of combined treatment on bone fracture incidence was identified.

Open access
Martin Bidlingmaier Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany

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Helena Gleeson Department of Endocrinology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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Ana-Claudia Latronico Department of Internal Medicine, Discipline of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sao Paulo Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

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Martin O Savage Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK

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Precision medicine employs digital tools and knowledge of a patient’s genetic makeup, environment and lifestyle to improve diagnostic accuracy and to develop individualised treatment and prevention strategies. Precision medicine has improved management in a number of disease areas, most notably in oncology, and it has the potential to positively impact others, including endocrine disorders. The accuracy of diagnosis in young patients with growth disorders can be improved by using biomarkers. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is the most widely accepted biomarker of growth hormone secretion, but its predictive value for recombinant human growth hormone treatment response is modest and various factors can affect the accuracy of IGF-I measurements. These factors need to be taken into account when considering IGF-I as a component of precision medicine in the management of growth hormone deficiency. The use of genetic analyses can assist with diagnosis by confirming the aetiology, facilitate treatment decisions, guide counselling and allow prompt intervention in children with pubertal disorders, such as central precocious puberty and testotoxicosis. Precision medicine has also proven useful during the transition of young people with endocrine disorders from paediatric to adult services when patients are at heightened risk of dropping out from medical care. An understanding of the likelihood of ongoing GH deficiency, using tools such as MRI, detailed patient history and IGF-I levels, can assist in determining the need for continued recombinant human growth hormone treatment during the process of transitional care.

Open access