17beta-Estradiol and Gonadotropin Levels for the Diagnosis of the Benign Form of Breast Development in Girls Aged up to 4 Years in Real-Life Clinical Practice

• BACKGROUND: Early onset of breast development in a young girl is usually a benign and isolated prepubertal condition, i.e., premature thelarche (PT), but can sometimes be progressive and the first sign of pubertal precocity (PP). Serum 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E2) level is a possible marker to differentiate between benign and pathological forms of breast development. We defined an upper serum 17beta-E2 level for benign, "classic" PT for girls aged 9-48 months. METHODS: Serum 17beta-E2 was analysed with a highly sensitive extraction radioimmunoassay (RIA). Gonadotropins, Tanner breast stage, growth, other investigations, and clinical outcome were assessed in 125 girls with breast development, in a population-based study in West Sweden. RESULTS: A total of 125 of 128 girls had a benign form of breast development with a mean serum 17beta-E2 level of 15.2 pmol/L and a mean + 2 SD of 31 pmol/L, which was regarded as the upper limit for benign PT; 3 girls with PP had 17beta-E2 levels above 70 pmol/L. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to define an upper serum 17beta-E2 level associated with benign PT. Girls aged 9-48 months with PT and Tanner breast stage 2 have 17beta-E2 levels below 32 pmol/L using extraction RIA. LH below the detection limit (0.1 IU/L) and measurable FSH support benign PT.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Pediatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Pediatrics (hsv//eng)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)