Premature Adrenarche
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Basics
Description
- Appearance of pubic hair younger than age 8 years in girls and age 9 years in boys
- Recent data suggest that the age of normal sexual development onset in girls is younger than previously recognized, but lowering of the traditionally accepted limits remains subject to debate.
- Axillary hair, acne, and apocrine sweat gland secretion are not always present with premature adrenarche.
- No other signs of sexual development are exhibited. Presence of breast development in girls or testicular enlargement in boys suggests precocious puberty and not premature adrenarche.
- Occurs independently of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis activation
Genetics
Often sporadic. Familial patterns suggesting recessive and dominant inheritance have been described.
Pathophysiology
- Concentrations of adrenal steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) increase earlier than typically seen in normal puberty.
- Adrenal zona reticularis normally begins to increase androgen secretion at age 7–8 years.
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
Basics
Description
- Appearance of pubic hair younger than age 8 years in girls and age 9 years in boys
- Recent data suggest that the age of normal sexual development onset in girls is younger than previously recognized, but lowering of the traditionally accepted limits remains subject to debate.
- Axillary hair, acne, and apocrine sweat gland secretion are not always present with premature adrenarche.
- No other signs of sexual development are exhibited. Presence of breast development in girls or testicular enlargement in boys suggests precocious puberty and not premature adrenarche.
- Occurs independently of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis activation
Genetics
Often sporadic. Familial patterns suggesting recessive and dominant inheritance have been described.
Pathophysiology
- Concentrations of adrenal steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) increase earlier than typically seen in normal puberty.
- Adrenal zona reticularis normally begins to increase androgen secretion at age 7–8 years.
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