Premature adrenarche: novel lessons from early onset androgen excess

High Fat Diet and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Adolescence: An Overview of Nutritional Strategies

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted and heterogeneous disorder, linked with notable reproductive, metabolic, and psychological outcomes. During adolescence, key components of PCOS treatment involve weight loss achieved through lifestyle and dietary interventions, subsequently pursued by pharmacological or surgical therapies. Nutritional interventions represent the first-line therapeutic approach in adolescents affected by PCOS, but different kinds of dietary protocols exist, so it is necessary to clarify the effectiveness and benefits of the most well-known nutritional approaches. We provided a comprehensive review of the current literature concerning PCOS definition, pathophysiology, and treatment options, highlighting nutritional strategies, particularly those related to high-fat diets. The high-fat nutritional protocols proposed in the literature, such as the ketogenic diet (KD), appear to provide benefits to patients with PCOS in terms of weight loss and control of metabolic parameters. Among the different types of KD studies, very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD), can be considered an effective dietary intervention for the short-term treatment of patients with PCOS. It rapidly leads to weight loss alongside improvements in body composition and metabolic profile. Even though extremely advantageous, long-term adherence to the KD is a limiting factor. Indeed, this dietary regimen could become unsustainable due to the important restrictions required for ketosis development. Thus, a combination of high-fat diets with more nutrient-rich nutritional regimens, such as the Mediterranean diet, can amplify positive effects for individuals with PCOS.

Management aspects of congenital adrenal hyperplasia during adolescence and transition to adult care

The adolescent period is characterised by fundamental hormonal changes, which affect sex steroid production, cortisol metabolism and insulin sensitivity. These physiological changes have a significant impact on patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). An essential treatment aim across the lifespan in patients with CAH is to replace glucocorticoids sufficiently to avoid excess adrenal androgen production but equally to avoid cardiometabolic risks associated with excess glucocorticoid intake. The changes to the hormonal milieu at puberty, combined with poor adherence to medical therapy, often result in unsatisfactory control exacerbating androgen excess and increasing the risk of metabolic complications due to steroid over-replacement. With the physical and cognitive maturation of the adolescent with CAH, fertility issues and sexual function become a new focus of patient care in the paediatric clinic. This requires close surveillance for gonadal dysfunction, such as irregular periods/hirsutism or genital surgery-associated symptoms in girls and central hypogonadism or testicular adrenal rest tumours in boys. To ensure good health outcomes across the lifespan, the transition process from paediatric to adult care of patients with CAH must be planned carefully and early from the beginning of adolescence, spanning over many years into young adulthood. Its key aims are to empower the young person through education with full disclosure of their medical history, to ensure appropriate follow-up with experienced physicians and facilitate access to multispecialist teams addressing the complex needs of patients with CAH.

The Association of Accelerated Early Growth, Timing of Puberty, and Metabolic Consequences in Children

Accelerated early growth and early timing of puberty or pubertal variant have been noticed as risk factors for metabolic syndrome, more frequently observed in children born small for gestational age (SGA) or children with premature adrenarche (PA). Children with SGA, especially if they make an accelerated catch-up growth in early life, carry a higher risk for long-term metabolic consequences, such as type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, multiple studies support that these children, either born SGA or with a history of PA, may have earlier pubertal timing, which is also associated with various metabolic risks. This review aims to summarize the recent studies investigating the association between early infantile growth, the timing of puberty, and metabolic risks to expand our knowledge and gain more insight into the underlying pathophysiology.

Association of size for gestational age and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate with cardiometabolic risk in central precocious puberty girls

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess whether size for gestational age and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) are associated with cardiometabolic risk in central precocious puberty (CPP) girls.

Methods

The retrospective study included 443 patients with newly diagnosed CPP. Subjects were categorized by birth weight for gestational age (appropriate [AGA], small [SGA], and large [LGA] for gestational age) and serum DHEAS concentration (high [≥75th percentile] and normal [<75th percentile] DHEAS). Cardiometabolic parameters were examined. Composite cardiometabolic risk (CMR) score was calculated based on BMI, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol. Non-obesity CMR score was computed, omitting the value from BMI. Logistic regression models, general linear models, and partial correlation analyses were used to evaluate associations. Propensity score matching was performed for sensitivity analyses.

Results

Overall, 309 patients (69.8%) were born AGA, 80 (18.1%) were born SGA, and 54 (12.2%) were born LGA. Compared with AGA counterparts, CPP girls born SGA were more prone to have elevated HbA1c (adjusted OR = 4.54; 95% CI, 1.43-14.42) and low HDL cholesterol (adjusted OR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.18-4.61). In contrast, being born LGA was not associated with increased risk for any glucose or lipid derangements. Despite the fact that elevated CMR score was more common among individuals born LGA than AGA (adjusted OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.07-4.35), no significant difference was found on non-obesity CMR score (adjusted OR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.30-1.88). When controlling for age, birth weight SDS, and current BMI-SDS, individuals with high DHEAS exhibited higher HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations and lower triglyceride level and non-obesity CMR score. Furthermore, DHEAS correlated positively with HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 and negatively with triglyceride, prominently in girls born SGA, after adjustments for the three abovementioned confounders. Sensitivity analyses corroborated the findings.

Conclusion

Among CPP girls, those born SGA were more likely to possess cardiometabolic risk factors compared to their AGA peers. The difference we observed in cardiometabolic risk between individuals born LGA and AGA was driven by BMI. High DHEAS was associated with favorable lipid profile in CPP girls, even in subjects born SGA.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels at 7 years old and cardio-metabolic factors at 10 and 13 years old - the generation XXI birth cohort

OBJECTIVES

Premature adrenarche is often linked to a cluster of endocrine-metabolic risk factors. Our objective was to explore the association of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels at age 7 with cardio-metabolic traits at ages 10 and 13, independently of adiposity and pubertal stage.

METHODS

Longitudinal study of 603 individuals (301 girls/302 boys) from the Generation XXI birth cohort. DHEAS at age 7 was measured by immunoassay. Anthropometrics, pubertal staging, blood pressure, and metabolic outcomes were evaluated at ages 7, 10, and 13. Pearson correlations between DHEAS and cardio-metabolic traits (insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were computed. Path analysis was used to estimate the effect of DHEAS at age 7 on cardiometabolic traits at ages 10 and 13, adjusted for body mass index (BMI) z-score and Tanner stage.

RESULTS

DHEAS at age 7 correlated positively with insulin and HOMA-IR at ages 7 and 10 in both sexes, and at age 13 in girls, but not in boys. In girls, DHEAS levels at age 7 directly influenced HOMA-IR at age 13, controlling for BMI and Tanner stage. In boys, DHEAS at age 7 did not influence HOMA-IR at ages 10 and 13. DHEAS at age 7 did not influence the other cardio-metabolic outcomes analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

DHEAS levels in mid-childhood have a positive longitudinal association with on insulin-resistance that persists, in girls, but not in boys, at least until age 13. No association was found regarding dyslipidemia, hypertension, or low-grade inflammation.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Preeclampsia in Offspring: Review of the Literature

Preeclampsia is a multisystemic clinical syndrome characterized by the appearance of new-onset hypertension and proteinuria or hypertension and end organ dysfunction even without proteinuria after 20 weeks of pregnancy or postpartum. Residing at the severe end of the spectrum of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia occurs in 3 to 8% of pregnancies worldwide and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, accounting for 8-10% of all preterm births. The mechanism whereby preeclampsia increases the risk of the neurodevelopmental, cardiovascular, and metabolic morbidity of the mother's offspring is not well known, but it is possible that the preeclamptic environment induces epigenetic changes that adversely affect developmental plasticity. These developmental changes are crucial for optimal fetal growth and survival but may lead to an increased risk of chronic morbidity in childhood and even later in life. The aim of this review is to summarize both the short- and long-term effects of preeclampsia on offspring based on the current literature.

High frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis in euthyroid girls with premature adrenarche

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) among euthyroid prepubertal girls presenting with premature adrenarche (PA). We also aimed to identify the clinical, metabolic, and endocrine profile of girls with AT and concurrent PA and compare them to girls with AT without PA, PA alone and healthy controls.

Methods

Ninety-one prepubertal girls aged 5-10 years, who attended our department for AT, PA and normal variants of growth and puberty were recruited for the study: 73 girls had PA, 6 AT without PA and 12 were referred for investigation of growth. All girls underwent clinical examination, detailed biochemical and hormonal screen. Standard dose Synachten stimulation test (SDSST) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were performed in all girls with PA. The whole study population was divided in 4 groups: Group PA-/AT+ included 6 girls with AT without PA; Group PA+/AT- PA subjects without AT; Group PA+/AT+ girls with PA and concomitant AT; Group PA-/AT- twelve healthy girls without PA nor AT (controls).

Results

Among 73 girls presenting with PA 19 had AT (26%). BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the presence of goiter significantly differed between the four groups (p = 0.016, p = 0.022 and p < 0.001, respectively). When comparing hormonal parameters among the four groups significant differences were found in leptin (p = 0.007), TSH (p = 0.044), anti-TPO (p = 0.002), anti-TG (p = 0.044), IGF-BP1 (p = 0.006), Δ4-Α (p = 0.01), DHEA-S (p = <0.001), IGF-1 (p = 0.012) and IGF-BP3 (p = 0.049) levels. TSH levels were significantly higher in Group PA+/AT+ compared to PA+/AT- and PA-/AT- (p = 0.043 and p = 0.016, respectively). Moreover, girls with AT (Groups PA-/AT+ and PA+/AT+) had higher TSH levels than those in Group PA+/AT- (p = 0.025). Girls in Group PA+/AT + showed higher cortisol response at 60 min post-SDSST than girls in Group PA+/AT- (p = 0.035). During the OGTT, insulin concentrations at 60 min were significantly higher in Group PA+/AT + compared to Group PA+/AT- (p = 0.042).

Conclusion

A high frequency of AT among euthyroid prepubertal girls with PA was observed. The combination of PA with AT even in euthyroid state may be associated with a greater degree of insulin resistance, than PA alone.

Approach to androgen excess in women: Clinical and biochemical insights

Androgen excess in women typically presents clinically with hirsutism, acne or androgenic alopecia. In the vast majority of cases, the underlying aetiology is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common chronic condition that affects up to 10% of all women. Identification of women with non-PCOS pathology within large cohorts of patients presenting with androgen excess represents a diagnostic challenge for the endocrinologist, and rare pathology including nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, severe insulin resistance syndromes, Cushing's disease or androgen-secreting tumours of the ovary or adrenal gland may be missed in the absence of a pragmatic screening approach. Detailed clinical history, physical examination and biochemical phenotyping are critical in risk-stratifying women who are at the highest risk of non-PCOS disorders. Red flag features such as rapid onset symptoms, overt virilization, postmenopausal onset or severe biochemical disturbances should prompt investigations for underlying neoplastic pathology, including dynamic testing and imaging where appropriate. This review will outline a proposed diagnostic approach to androgen excess in women, including an introduction to androgen metabolism and provision of a suggested algorithmic strategy to identify non-PCOS pathology according to clinical and biochemical phenotype.

Adult Height in Girls With Idiopathic Premature Adrenarche: A Cohort Study and Design of a Predictive Model

Introduction

Idiopathic premature adrenarche (IPA) is considered a normal variant of puberty, presenting more commonly in female patients. There are concerns as to whether IPA alters the final height of these girls. Our main objectives were to (a) compare the adult height of girls with IPA against their target height and (b) design a mathematical model to predict adult height at diagnosis in female patients with IPA.

Materials and Methods

A cohort study of girls with IPA was conducted from the time of IPA diagnosis until adult height. The following data were collected: target height, perinatal history, anthropometric and biochemical variables and bone age at diagnosis, age at Tanner stage 2 and menarcheal age, and adult height. First, we performed a univariate statistical analysis after which we carried out a multiple linear regression analysis using adult height as the dependent variable.

Results

We obtained data from 79 female patients diagnosed with IPA with a mean adult height of 164.6 cm (95% CI: 163.36-165.85 cm). The mean follow-up time was 6.60 years. Average age at Tanner stage 2 was 9.71 years. Mean menarcheal age was 11.64 years. There were no significant differences between target height and adult height. Of the several predictive models designed for these patients, one of them, which included bone age, obtained an R2 value of 71%.

Conclusions

Although slightly advanced puberty was observed among the girls with IPA, their adult height was preserved. The use of predictive models of adult height on diagnosis of IPA could facilitate closer follow-up of girls at risk of reduced adult height.

Pelvic and breast ultrasound abnormalities and associated metabolic disturbances in girls with premature pubarche due to adrenarche

OBJECTIVE

Premature adrenarche (PA) has been suggested as a risk factor for future health problems, such as metabolic syndrome and early menarche. However, not all girls with PA have these features and it is not certain who will develop them. We propose that these abnormalities might be identified earlier, even before they are visible.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-eight girls with premature pubarche due to PA and age (mean age 7.6 ± 1.0 years), weight, body mass index (BMI), birth weight and gestational age-matched 49 girls with no palpable breast tissue.

MEASUREMENTS

Early pubertal pelvic and breast ultrasonographic changes and their associations with obesity and metabolic parameters were evaluated. Blood samples were collected, breast and pelvic ultrasound examinations were performed and bone ages were assessed.

RESULTS

Girls with PA were taller and their bone ages were higher (p = .049 and p = .005). Fasting blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not different between the groups. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol were not different either. Ultrasonography revealed breast gland tissue in 30% of girls with PA and 5% of controls (p = .006). Uterine volume and endometrial thickness were higher in girls with PA (p = .03 and p = .04). Endometrial thickness was positively associated with serum insulin levels in the whole study group and after adjusting for age, diagnosis, BMI, mean ovarian volume and LH, FSH, estradiol levels, this association remained with a borderline p-value (R2  = 0.486, p = .050).

CONCLUSIONS

We found early changes in uterus and breast glands of girls with PA and endometrial thickness was positively associated with insulin levels.

Normal and Premature Adrenarche

Adrenarche is the maturational increase in adrenal androgen production that normally begins in early childhood. It results from changes in the secretory response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) that are best indexed by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) rise. These changes are related to the development of the zona reticularis (ZR) and its unique gene/enzyme expression pattern of low 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 with high cytochrome b5A, sulfotransferase 2A1, and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5. Recently 11-ketotestosterone was identified as an important bioactive adrenarchal androgen. Birth weight, body growth, obesity, and prolactin are related to ZR development. Adrenarchal androgens normally contribute to the onset of sexual pubic hair (pubarche) and sebaceous and apocrine gland development. Premature adrenarche causes ≥90% of premature pubarche (PP). Its cause is unknown. Affected children have a significantly increased growth rate with proportionate bone age advancement that typically does not compromise growth potential. Serum DHEAS and testosterone levels increase to levels normal for early female puberty. It is associated with mildly increased risks for obesity, insulin resistance, and possibly mood disorder and polycystic ovary syndrome. Between 5% and 10% of PP is due to virilizing disorders, which are usually characterized by more rapid advancement of pubarche and compromise of adult height potential than premature adrenarche. Most cases are due to nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Algorithms are presented for the differential diagnosis of PP. This review highlights recent advances in molecular genetic and developmental biologic understanding of ZR development and insights into adrenarche emanating from mass spectrometric steroid assays.

Role of Body Weight in the Onset and the Progression of Idiopathic Premature Pubarche

BACKGROUND

The term premature pubarche (PP) refers to the appearance of pubic hair before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Although idiopathic PP (often associated with premature adrenarche) is considered an extreme variation from the norm, it may be an initial sign of persistent hyperandrogenism. Factors contributing to PP onset and progression have not been identified to date.

AIMS

The objectives of this study are to describe a group of Italian children with PP, to identify potential factors for its onset, and to define its clinical and biochemical progression.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled all infants born between 2001 and 2014 with PP. Children with advanced bone age (BA) underwent functional tests to determine the cause of PP. Hormonal analysis and BA determination were performed annually during a 4-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

A total of 334 children with PP were identified: idiopathic PP (92.5%, associated with premature adrenarche in some cases); related to precocious puberty (6.6%); late-onset 21-hydroxylase deficiency (0.9%). Low birth weight was associated with premature adrenal activation. Body mass index (BMI) was the only factor that influenced the progression of BA during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Low birth weight is a predisposing factor for premature adrenal activation. The increase in BMI in patients with idiopathic PP during the 4-years of follow-up was responsible for BA acceleration. We recommend prevention of excessive weight gain in children with PP and strict adherence to follow-up in order to prevent serious metabolic consequences.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Insulin-Resistant Adolescents with Obesity: The Role of Nutrition Therapy and Food Supplements as a Strategy to Protect Fertility

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in young reproductive-aged women. PCOS is often associated with obesity and impairs reproductive health. Even though several theories have been proposed to explain the pathogenic mechanism of PCOS, the role of insulin resistance (IR) as a key etiological component, independently of (but amplified by) obesity, is well recognized. The consequent hyperinsulinemia activates excessive ovarian androgen production, leading to PCOS. Additionally, the state of chronic inflammation related to obesity impacts ovarian physiology due to insulin sensitivity impairment. The first-line treatment for adolescents with obesity and PCOS includes lifestyle changes; personalized dietary interventions; and, when needed, weight loss. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and the use of specific food supplements in these patients aim at improving symptoms and signs, including insulin resistance and metabolic and reproductive functions. The purpose of this narrative review is to present and discuss PCOS in adolescents with obesity, its relationship with IR and the role of MNT and food supplements in treatment. Appropriate early dietary intervention for the management of adolescents with obesity and PCOS should be considered as the recommended approach to restore ovulation and to protect fertility.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Ontogeny in Adolescence

The pathophysiology of symptomatic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often unfolds across puberty, but the ontogeny of PCOS is difficult to study because, in general, its pathophysiology is well entrenched before the diagnosis can be confirmed. However, the study of high-risk groups (daughters of women with PCOS, girls with premature pubarche, and girls with obesity) can offer insight in this regard. Available data support the hypothesis that the pubertal development of PCOS involves various combinations of genetic predisposition, intrauterine programming, hyperinsulinism, and numerous other abnormalities that provoke reproductive symptoms (eg, hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction) in response to the pubertal increase in gonadotropin secretion.

Pubertal timing in boys and girls born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

CONTEXT

The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been on the rise, driven by maternal obesity. In parallel, pubertal tempo has increased in the general population, driven by childhood obesity.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the available evidence on pubertal timing of boys and girls born to mothers with GDM.

DATA SOURCES

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane library and grey literature for observational studies up to October 2019.

STUDY SELECTION AND EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently selected studies, collected data and appraised the studies for risk of bias. Results were tabulated and narratively described as reported in the primary studies.

RESULTS

Seven articles (six for girls and four for boys) were included. Study quality score was mostly moderate (ranging from 4 to 10 out of 11). In girls born to mothers with GDM, estimates suggest earlier timing of pubarche, thelarche and menarche although for each of these outcomes only one study each showed a statistically significant association. In boys, there was some association between maternal GDM and earlier pubarche, but inconsistency in the direction of shift of age at onset of genital and testicular development and first ejaculation. Only a single study analysed growth patterns in children of mothers with GDM, describing a 3-month advancement in the age of attainment of peak height velocity and a slight increase in pubertal tempo.

CONCLUSIONS

Pubertal timing may be influenced by the presence of maternal GDM, though current evidence is sparse and of limited quality. Prospective cohort studies should be conducted, ideally coupled with objective biochemical tests.

From adrenarche to aging of adrenal zona reticularis: precocious female adrenopause onset

OBJECTIVE

Adaptive changes in DHEA and sulfated-DHEA (DHEAS) production from adrenal zona reticularis (ZR) have been observed in normal and pathological conditions. Here we used three different cohorts to assess timing differences in DHEAS blood level changes and characterize the relationship between early blood DHEAS reduction and cell number changes in women ZR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DHEAS plasma samples (n = 463) were analyzed in 166 healthy prepubertal girls before pubarche (<9 years) and 324 serum samples from 268 adult females (31.9-83.8 years) without conditions affecting steroidogenesis. Guided by DHEAS blood levels reduction rate, we selected the age range for ZR cell counting using DHEA/DHEAS and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), tumor suppressor and cell stress marker, immunostaining, and hematoxylin stained nuclei of 14 post-mortem adrenal glands.

RESULTS

We confirmed that overweight girls exhibited higher and earlier DHEAS levels and no difference was found compared with the average European and South American girls with a similar body mass index (BMI). Adrenopause onset threshold (AOT) defined as DHEAS blood levels <2040 nmol/L was identified in >35% of the females >40 years old and associated with significantly reduced ZR cell number (based on PTEN and hematoxylin signals). ZR cell loss may in part account for lower DHEA/DHEAS expression, but most cells remain alive with lower DHEA/DHEAS biosynthesis.

CONCLUSION

The timely relation between significant reduction of blood DHEAS levels and decreased ZR cell number at the beginning of the 40s suggests that adrenopause is an additional burden for a significant number of middle-aged women, and may become an emergent problem associated with further sex steroids reduction during the menopausal transition.

Premature Adrenarche in Girls Characterized By Enhanced 17,20-Lyase and 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activities

CONTEXT

Girls with premature adrenarche (PA) may have a higher risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome. The biological purpose of adrenarche is unknown and the role of novel biosynthetic pathways remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the urinary steroid metabolome and enzyme activities of girls with PA to age-matched control girls and to published steroid values of girls with normal adrenarche and of women with PCOS and their newborn daughters.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study from 2009 to 2014.

SETTING

Academic pediatric endocrinology referral center.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-three girls with PA and 22 healthy, age-matched girls.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Steroid metabolites in 24-hour urine samples, including 4 progesterones, 5 corticosterones, aldosterone, 13 androgens, 2 estrogens, 14 glucocorticoids, and enzyme activities represented by metabolite ratios.

RESULTS

Girls with PA had a higher body mass index (mean standard deviation scores 0.9 vs -0.3, P = 0.013). Androgen excretion was higher in PA girls than in control girls (median 3257 nmol/24 hours vs 1627 nmol/24 hours, P < 0.001), in particular metabolites from alternate androgen pathways. The amount of progesterone, corticosterone, aldosterone, estrogen, and cortisol metabolites were similar between groups. Activities of 17β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase and of 17,20-lyase were higher in girls with PA. Activities of 3β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase, 21-hydroxylase, and 5α-reductase activity were not different between groups, in contrast to published results on girls with normal adrenarche or PCOS females.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolites and enzymes involved in alternate androgen pathways appear to be markers of PA. Prospective studies should assess whether steroid production in PA also differs from adrenarche at normal timing and persists into adulthood.

Premature Adrenarche and its Association with Cardiovascular Risk in Females

Early activation of the adrenal zona reticularis, leading to adrenal androgen secretion, mainly dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), is called premature adrenarche (PA). The fact that adrenal hyperandrogenism in females has been linked to a cluster of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, even in prepubertal children, warrants investigation. Controversial results have been obtained in this field, probably due to genetic, constitutional, and environmental factors or differences in the characteristics of participants. In an attempt to understand, in depth, the impact of PA as a potential activator of CV risk, we critically present available data stratified according to pubertal status. It seems that prepubertally, CV risk is increased in these girls, but is somewhat attenuated during their second decade of life. Furthermore, different entities associated with PA, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia, heterozygosity of CYP21A2 mutations, and the impact of DHEAS on CV risk, are reviewed. At present, firm and definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. However, it may be speculated that girls with a history of PA display a hyperandrogenic hormonal milieu that may lead to increased CV risk. Accordingly, appropriate long-term follow-up and early intervention employing a patient-oriented approach are recommended.

Premature Adrenarche in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome Treated with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Seems to Not Influence the Course of Central Puberty and the Efficacy and Safety of the Therapy

Puberty in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is usually delayed and/or incomplete but in some patients premature/early adrenarche is observed. We assessed the premature adrenarche (PA) in PWS patients during the recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy and influence of PA on the course of central puberty (CP), rhGH efficacy and safety, and patients’ metabolic state. Forty-nine PWS patients were treated with rhGH, 11 presented with PA (group 1) and 14 had normal course of adrenarche (group 2). PA was observed in 22.5% of the PWS children treated with rhGH. The mean time between the rhGH start and the adrenarche, the rhGH dose, the growth velocity and the insulin-like growth factor 1 SD (IGF1 SD) during the treatment, as well as the time of CP, final height SD and BMI SD were similar in both groups. There were also no significant differences in the metabolic assessment—the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and lipid profile results. PA may be a part of the clinical picture of PWS, apart from hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and it seems to have no influence on CP in PWS patients. The rhGH efficacy and safety were comparable in the patients with PA and the normal course of adrenarche.

The clinical application of metformin in children and adolescents: A short update

Metformin is a widely used drug that results in clear benefits in relation to glucose metabolism and diabetes-related complications. The global increase in the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents is accompanied by the appearance and increasing prevalence of insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, children, and adolescents with premature pubarche and polycystic ovary have considerable degree of insulin resistance. The insulin sensitizing actions of metformin encouraged many investigators and physician to use it as the key drug in these conditions for both prevention and treatment. However, long term-controlled studies are still required to assess the degree and duration of effectiveness and safety of using metformin. This review tries to update physicians about the main and the new therapeutic perspectives of this drug.

Glucocorticoid Resistance in Premature Adrenarche and PCOS: From Childhood to Adulthood

Context

We hypothesize that impaired glucocorticoid sensitivity (GC sensitivity) plays a role in the development of premature adrenarche (PA) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by increasing androgen synthesis.

Objective

To study glucocorticoid sensitivity in vitro in subjects with PA and PCOS.

Patients and Methods

Fourteen subjects (10 girls, 4 boys, 6.9 ± 0.6 years) with PA; 27 subjects with PCOS (17 ± 2.5 years) and 31 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All subjects and controls underwent GC sensitivity analysis in vitro using a fluorescein labeled-dexamethasone (F-DEX) assay. A GC sensitivity index (GCSI) was calculated as area under the curve of the F-DEX assay results. Subjects were classified as GC resistant if the GCSI ≤ 264 and GC sensitive if the GCSI ≥ 386.

Results

In the PA group, 8 of 14 subjects were resistant with GCSI of 179.7 ± 39.9, 4 were within the normal range with GCSI of 299.6 ± 27.9, and 2 had increased GC sensitivity with GCSI of 423.5 ± 47.9. In the PCOS group, 18 of 27 subjects were GC-resistant with GCSI of 180.9 ± 58.2, 8 were within the normal range with GCSI of 310.7 ± 26.4, and 1 had increased GCSI of 395.4. In the PCOS GC-resistant subgroup, cortisol was higher compared with PCOS with normal GCSI (P < 0.05). In the combined PCOS plus female control group, GCSI correlated negatively with cortisol and testosterone (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

GC resistance was found in more than 50% of patients with PCOS and PA. The findings strongly suggest that GC resistance is associated with states of PA and PCOS.

11-Oxygenated androgens in health and disease

The adrenal gland is a source of sex steroid precursors, and its activity is particularly relevant during fetal development and adrenarche. Following puberty, the synthesis of androgens by the adrenal gland has been considered of little physiologic importance. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate, DHEAS, are the major adrenal androgen precursors, but they are biologically inactive. The second most abundant unconjugated androgen produced by the human adrenals is 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4). 11-Ketotestosterone, a downstream metabolite of 11OHA4 (which is mostly produced in peripheral tissues), and its 5α-reduced product, 11-ketodihydrotestosterone, are bioactive androgens, with potencies equivalent to those of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. These adrenal-derived androgens all share an oxygen atom on carbon 11, so we have collectively termed them 11-oxyandrogens. Over the past decade, these androgens have emerged as major components of several disorders of androgen excess, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, premature adrenarche and polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as in androgen-dependent tumours, such as castration-resistant prostate cancer. Moreover, in contrast to the more extensively studied, traditional androgens, circulating concentrations of 11-oxyandrogens do not demonstrate an age-dependent decline. This Review focuses on the rapidly expanding knowledge regarding the implications of 11-oxyandrogens in human physiology and disease.

The Unique Role of 11-Oxygenated C19 Steroids in Both Premature Adrenarche and Premature Pubarche

INTRODUCTION

Recent studies have shown 11-oxygenated androgens (11oAs) are the dominant androgens in premature adrenarche (PA). Our objective was to compare 11oAs and conventional androgens in a well-defined cohort of children with PA or premature pubarche (PP) and correlate these androgens with metabolic markers.

METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital. Fasting early morning serum steroids (including 11oAs) and metabolic biomarkers were compared and their correlations determined in children ages 3-8 years (F) or 3-9 years (M) with PA or PP (5 M and 15 F) and healthy controls (3 M and 8 F).

RESULTS

There were no differences between PA, PP, and controls or between PA and PP subgroups for sex, BMI z-score, or criteria for childhood metabolic syndrome. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) was elevated only in the PA subgroup, as defined. 11oAs were elevated versus controls in PA and PP although no differences in 11oAs were noted between PA and PP. Within the case cohort, there was high correlation of T and A4 with 11-ketotestosterone and 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione. While lipids did not differ, median insulin and HOMA-IR were higher but not statistically different in PA and PP.

CONCLUSIONS

PA and PP differ only by DHEAS and not by 11oAs or insulin sensitivity, consistent with 11oAs - rather than DHEAS - mediating the phenotypic changes of pubarche. Case correlations suggest association of 11oAs with T and A4. These data are the first to report the early morning steroid profiles including 11oAs in a well-defined group of PA, PP, and healthy children.

Steroid Metabolome Analysis in Disorders of Adrenal Steroid Biosynthesis and Metabolism

Steroid biosynthesis and metabolism are reflected by the serum steroid metabolome and, in even more detail, by the 24-hour urine steroid metabolome, which can provide unique insights into alterations of steroid flow and output indicative of underlying conditions. Mass spectrometry-based steroid metabolome profiling has allowed for the identification of unique multisteroid signatures associated with disorders of steroid biosynthesis and metabolism that can be used for personalized approaches to diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognostic prediction. Additionally, steroid metabolome analysis has been used successfully as a discovery tool, for the identification of novel steroidogenic disorders and pathways as well as revealing insights into the pathophysiology of adrenal disease. Increased availability and technological advances in mass spectrometry-based methodologies have refocused attention on steroid metabolome profiling and facilitated the development of high-throughput steroid profiling methods soon to reach clinical practice. Furthermore, steroid metabolomics, the combination of mass spectrometry-based steroid analysis with machine learning-based approaches, has facilitated the development of powerful customized diagnostic approaches. In this review, we provide a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the utility of steroid metabolome analysis for the diagnosis and management of inborn disorders of steroidogenesis and autonomous adrenal steroid excess in the context of adrenal tumors.

Cardiometabolic Risk Profile Among Young Adult Females With a History of Premature Adrenarche

Context

Premature adrenarche (PA) is associated with childhood overweight and hyperinsulinemia; the long-term cardiometabolic outcome is unknown.

Objective

To study cardiometabolic profile in adult women with previous PA.

Design and participants

Thirty women with PA and 41 control subjects were followed from prepuberty to young adulthood.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and clinical and biochemical cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

There were no differences in the prevalence of MetS or in any parameters indicating dyslipidemia, hypertension, hepatosteatosis, atherosclerosis, or low-grade inflammation between the study groups. However, prevalence of insulin resistance (IR; P = 0.014) and acanthosis nigricans (P = 0.010) was higher in the PA group. Neither fasting glucose nor insulin concentrations differed between the study groups, but HbA1c [adjusted for body mass index (BMI) P = 0.011] and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (P = 0.044; BMI-adjusted P = nonsignificant) were higher in the PA group. Although BMI and fat percentage were comparable between the study groups, the PA group had higher central fat mass than the control group. In the whole study population, MetS and IR were associated with greater adult fat mass, but no prepubertal factors predicting later IR were found.

Conclusion

PA does not seem to be associated with MetS, dyslipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, or low-grade inflammation in young adult women. However, some women with PA may be at an increased risk of unfavorable glucose metabolism, which is associated with increased central adiposity at adult age rather than determined by prepubertal factors.

Causes, patterns and severity of androgen excess in 487 consecutively recruited pre- and post-pubertal children

Objective Androgen excess in childhood is a common presentation and may signify sinister underlying pathology. Data describing its patterns and severity are scarce, limiting the information available for clinical decision processes. Here, we examined the differential diagnostic value of serum DHEAS, androstenedione (A4) and testosterone in childhood androgen excess. Design Retrospective review of all children undergoing serum androgen measurement at a single center over 5 years. Methods Serum A4 and testosterone were measured by tandem mass spectrometry and DHEAS by immunoassay. Patients with at least one increased androgen underwent phenotyping by clinical notes review. Results In 487 children with simultaneous DHEAS, A4 and testosterone measurements, we identified 199 with androgen excess (140 pre- and 59 post-pubertal). Premature adrenarche (PA) was the most common pre-pubertal diagnosis (61%), characterized by DHEAS excess in 85%, while A4 and testosterone were only increased in 26 and 9% respectively. PCOS was diagnosed in 40% of post-pubertal subjects, presenting equally frequent with isolated excess of DHEAS (29%) or testosterone (25%) or increases in both A4 and testosterone (25%). CAH patients (6%) predominantly had A4 excess (86%); testosterone and DHEAS were increased in 50 and 33% respectively. Concentrations increased above the two-fold upper limit of normal were mostly observed in PA for serum DHEAS (>20-fold in the single case of adrenocortical carcinoma) and in CAH for serum androstenedione. Conclusions Patterns and severity of childhood androgen excess provide pointers to the underlying diagnosis and can be used to guide further investigations.

Conceptualizing Puberty as a Window of Opportunity for Impacting Health and Well-Being Across the Life Span

We promote the perspective that puberty, a separate biological process embedded in adolescence, is a "window of opportunity" for understanding and impacting health and development. First, we include a brief overview of pubertal change. Second, we propose a critical role for puberty in shaping life span health due to its connections with early life precursors, health issues and risks emerging during puberty, and health in young adulthood and beyond. Next, we discuss the importance of puberty measures in developmental research and suggest ways to make the science of puberty an important standalone research entity, as well as an essential component of studies conducted during adolescence. Finally, we discuss measurement issues, novel theoretical models of puberty, and the necessity of adopting an interdisciplinary perspective in research on puberty and in adolescence more broadly.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Girls with Premature Adrenarche: The Impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome History in their Mothers

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether the serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are increased in girls with premature adrenarche because they are at a higher risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) later in life.

STUDY DESIGN

We measured serum levels of AMH, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, androstenedione, and 17-hyroxyprogesterone in 89 girls with premature adrenarche aged 6.98 ± 1.60 years, and in 55 prepubertal normal girls aged 6.78 ± 1.60 years.

RESULTS

AMH was significantly higher in girls with premature adrenarche (2.95 ± 1.20 ng/mL) compared with normal prepubertal girls (2.00 ± 0.95 ng/mL; P < .001), whereas their body mass index SD score was similar (P > .05). DHEAS, testosterone, and androstenedione were increased in premature adrenarche, whereas sex hormone binding globulin was decreased in girls with premature adrenarche. Among the 89 girls with premature adrenarche, 33 were daughters of mothers with a positive history of PCOS, whereas the mothers of the remaining 56 girls with premature adrenarche had a negative history of PCOS. The girls with a mother with a positive history of PCOS had significantly higher AMH serum levels compared with girls with a mother with a negative history of PCOS (3.37 ± 1.72  ng/mL vs 2.70 ± 1.25 ng/mL; P < .05) with no differences in testosterone, DHEAS, androstenedione, and sex hormone binding globulin. The serum concentration of AMH was only positively related to androstenedione (r = 0.538; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Girls with premature adrenarche, especially those from mothers with a history of PCOS, could have a higher risk of developing PCOS later in life because they have increased serum AMH.

Review of the Literature on Current Changes in the Timing of Pubertal Development and the Incomplete Forms of Early Puberty

Puberty is a sensitive period of life characterized by the appearance of secondary sex characteristics which leads to a complete sexual maturation. It physiologically starts between the age of 8 and 13 years in girls and 9 and 14 years in boys. In the last two decades, several studies have showed that start of puberty has moved up to younger ages by 12-18 months, and some of the hypotheses trying to explain this change include the role of nutritional status and obesity and the influence of extrinsic factors such as exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), as well. The hypothalamic-hypophysis-gonadal axis develops during embryogenesis, and except for a period of activation immediately after birth, remains suppressed until the onset of pubertal development. At the beginning of puberty, the pulse generator is reactivated, probably due to progressive stimulatory influences on GnRH neurons from glial signals and neurotrasmitters. Kisspeptin and its receptor play a fundamental role in this phase. Premature Pubarche/Adrenarche, Premature Thelarche, and Premature Menarche are incomplete forms of precocious pubertal development that have their origin in endocrine mechanisms that only recently have started to be understood. It is important to distinguish these forms from the complete ones in order to reassure patients and parents about the non-evolution of pubertal progression and avoid non-useful treatments with analogous LHRH.

Metabolic Perspectives for Non-classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia With Relation to the Classical Form of the Disease

Non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) represents mild form of CAH with the prevalence of 0. 6 to 9% in women with androgen excess. Clinical and hormonal findings in females with NC-CAH are overlapping with other hyperandrogenic entities such as polycystic ovary syndrome hence causing difficulties in diagnostic approach. Metabolic consequences in subjects with NC-CAH are relatively unknown. We are lacking longitudinal follow of these patients regarding natural course of the disease or the therapeutic effects of the different drug regiments. Patients with NC-CAH similarly to those with classical form are characterized with deteriorated cardiovascular risk factors that are probably translated into cardiometabolic diseases and events. An increased preponderance of obesity and insulin resistance in patients with NC-CAH begin at young age could result in increased rates of metabolic sequelae and cardiovascular disease later during adulthood in both sexes. On the other hand, growth disorder was not proven in patients with NC-CAH in comparison to CAH patients of both gender characterized with reduced final adult height. Similarly, decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis are not constant findings in patients with NC-CAH and could depend on the sex, and type or dose of corticosteroids applied. It could be concluded that NC-CAH represent a particular form of CAH that is characterized with specificities in clinical presentation, diagnosis, therapeutic approach and metabolic outcomes.

11-Ketotestosterone Is the Dominant Circulating Bioactive Androgen During Normal and Premature Adrenarche

CONTEXT

Adrenarche refers to the rise of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) associated with the development of a functional adrenal zona reticularis. Clinical features of adrenarche include onset of body odor, axillary hair, and pubic hair, which reflect increased androgen action. An early rise in adrenal androgens, or premature adrenarche (PremA), is a risk factor for adverse metabolic profiles in adolescence and adulthood. The bioactive androgens associated with adrenarche and PremA remain poorly understood. The adrenal gland is a potential source of testosterone (T) and the 11-oxygenated derivatives 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT) and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to characterize the adrenal androgen biome contributing to adrenarche and PremA.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

With the use of mass spectrometry, 19 steroids including the 11-oxygenated derivatives of T were measured in sera obtained from girls with PremA (n = 37; 4 to 7 years) and age-matched girls (n = 83; 4 to 10 years).

RESULTS

In reference population girls, dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA-S, androstenediol-3-sulfate, T, and 11KT all increased at the onset of adrenarche (6 to 8 years) and beyond (9 to 10 years) (P < 0.05 vs younger subjects 4 to 5 years). T, 11OHT, and 11KT were further elevated in PremA vs age-matched girls (P < 0.001). Circulating concentrations of 11KT during adrenarche and PremA exceeded those of T and 11OHT (11KT > T ≥ 11OHT). Androgen receptor activity and nuclear translocation studies demonstrated that 11KT is a potent androgen similar to T.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that 11KT is the dominant bioactive androgen in children during adrenarche and PremA. Its androgenic capacity suggests that it may be responsible for the phenotypic changes seen in these phenomena.

Body mass index at the presentation of premature adrenarche is associated with components of metabolic syndrome at puberty

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between premature adrenarche (PA) and metabolic syndrome (MeS) parameters at presentation and during puberty. This study comprised 47 girls with PA. Age- and puberty-matched 22 healthy girls without PA were the control group. Patients were evaluated at admission (first evaluation) and later in puberty (second evaluation). Anthropometric measurements, lipid levels, and hormonal parameters were studied and oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Indices for insulin resistance (IR) were calculated. The study group was divided in subgroups according to body mass index (BMI) and compared with the control group. The age of the PA group at first evaluation was 8.0 ± 1.1 years; mean height SDS and BMI SDS were 0.4 ± 1.2 and 0.6 ± 0.9, respectively. Age of PA group at the second evaluation was 12.9 ± 2.4 years. Frequency of obesity and overweight was 14.9 and 23.4%. Dyslipidemia ratio was 28.3%. PA group had significantly higher BMI than controls. Mean insulin concentration was higher and mean glucose and FGIR were lower in PA group and also dyslipidemia ratio was 5.3 times higher in PA than controls (p = 0.040). In PA group, overweight/obese subjects had still higher BMI at second evaluation and also higher fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR. However, PA children with exaggerated DHEAS concentrations compared to those without had similar BMI SDS, insulin sensitivity, and secretion indices and lipid profile at second evaluation. BMI SDS at first evaluation was positively correlated with HOMA-IR at puberty; however, there is no correlation between DHEAS at first evaluation and HOMA-IR at puberty.Conclusion: BMI at adrenarche is more important than prepubertal adrogen concentrations such as DHEAS, while predicting the IR in puberty. Long-term follow-up of children supports the observation that PA per se may be related to IR; however, the risk increases with obesity. What is Known: • Premature adrenarche (PA) is receiving more attention as evidence emerges for a relation between early androgen excess and metabolic syndrome. • The onset of the adrenal androgen production before 8 years in girls defined as PA. Pubarche, axillary hair, apocrine body odor, acne are typical phenotypic features of PA. What is New: • Body mass index at adrenarche is an important risk factor for development of insulin resistance in pubertal ages. • Degree of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate elevation was not shown as a risk factor for insulin resistance.

Monogenic Disorders of Adrenal Steroidogenesis

Disorders of adrenal steroidogenesis comprise autosomal recessive conditions affecting steroidogenic enzymes of the adrenal cortex. Those are located within the 3 major branches of the steroidogenic machinery involved in the production of mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens. This mini review describes the principles of adrenal steroidogenesis, including the newly appreciated 11-oxygenated androgen pathway. This is followed by a description of pathophysiology, biochemistry, and clinical implications of steroidogenic disorders, including mutations affecting cholesterol import and steroid synthesis, the latter comprising both mutations affecting steroidogenic enzymes and co-factors required for efficient catalysis. A good understanding of adrenal steroidogenic pathways and their regulation is crucial as the basis for sound management of these disorders, which in the majority present in early childhood.

[Natural progression of premature pubarche and underlying diseases]

INTRODUCTION

Premature pubarche (PP) is generally thought to be a benign condition, but it can also be the first sign of underlying disease.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the aetiology and the evolution of the anthropometric, analytical and metabolic risk parameters of a group of patients with PP.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive and analytical retrospective study of 92 patients affected by PP. Anthropometry, analyses, bone age and indicators of lipid metabolism were all evaluated.

RESULTS

The sample included 92 patients with PP (67 female and 25 male), with a mean age of 7.1±0.6 for girls and 8.3±0.7 for boys. Small for gestational age was recorded in 7.7%. There was an accelerated bone age (1.20±0.1 years). A total of 21 patients were classified as idiopathic (23%), 60 as idiopathic premature adrenarche (65%), and 11 with non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (12%). Puberty was reached early (11+0.9 years old in boys and 9.9±0.8 in girls), as was menstruation age (11.8+1.1 years old), P<.001. The stature finally reached was close to their genetic stature. There is a positive correlation between body mass index, blood glucose and LDL cholesterol, as well as a tendency towards hyperinsulinaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that PP is a benign condition in the majority of cases, but non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (12%) is not uncommon. Menstruation and puberty started early and bone age was accelerated. Growth was normal, and more or less in line with genetic size. PP associated with obesity is linked with analytical variations of metabolic risks.

Intracrine androgen biosynthesis, metabolism and action revisited

Androgens play an important role in metabolic homeostasis and reproductive health in both men and women. Androgen signalling is dependent on androgen receptor activation, mostly by testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone. However, the intracellular or intracrine activation of C19 androgen precursors to active androgens in peripheral target tissues of androgen action is of equal importance. Intracrine androgen synthesis is often not reflected by circulating androgens but rather by androgen metabolites and conjugates. In this review we provide an overview of human C19 steroid biosynthesis including the production of 11-oxygenated androgens, their transport in circulation and uptake into peripheral tissues. We conceptualise the mechanisms of intracrinology and review the intracrine pathways of activation and inactivation in selected human tissues. The contribution of liver and kidney as organs driving androgen inactivation and renal excretion are also highlighted. Finally, the importance of quantifying androgen metabolites and conjugates to assess intracrine androgen production is discussed.

The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of 11-Oxygenated Androgens in Human Physiology and Disease

The 11-oxyandrogens, particularly 11-ketotestosterone, have been recognized as a biologically important gonadal androgen in teleost (bony) fishes for decades, and their presence in human beings has been known but poorly understood. Today, we recognize that 11-oxyandrogens derive from the human adrenal glands and are major bioactive androgens, particularly in women and children. This article will review their biosynthesis and metabolism, abundance in normal and pathologic states, and potential as biomarkers of adrenal developmental changes and disease. Specifically, 11-oxyandrogens are the dominant active androgens in many patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Polycystic ovary syndrome throughout a woman's life

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among reproductive-aged women and the main cause of infertility due to anovulation. However, this syndrome spans the lives of women affecting them from in-utero life until death, leading to several health risks that can impair quality of life and increase morbidity and mortality rates. Fetal programming may represent the beginning of the condition characterized by hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance which leads to a series of medical consequences in adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Menstrual and fertility problems evolve into metabolic complications as age advances. An early and precise diagnosis is important for an adequate management of PCOS, especially at the extreme ends of the reproductive lifespan. However, many different phenotypes are included under the same condition, being important to look at these different phenotypes separately, as they may require different treatments and have different consequences. In this way, PCOS exhibits a great metabolic complexity and its diagnosis needs to be revised once again and adapted to recent data obtained by new technologies. According to the current medical literature, lifestyle therapy constitutes the first step in the management, especially when excess body weight is associated. Pharmacotherapy is frequently used to treat the most predominant manifestations in each age group, such as irregular menses and hirsutism in adolescence, fertility problems in adulthood, and metabolic problems and risk of cancer in old age. Close surveillance is mandatory in each stage of life to avoid health risks which may also affect the offspring, since fetal and post-natal complications seem to be increased in PCOS women.

Prepubertal children born large for gestational age have lower serum DHEAS concentrations than those with a lower birth weight

BackgroundChildren born small for gestational age (SGA) have higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations than children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The overall metabolic risk associated with birth weight is U-shaped, but it is not known whether children born large for gestational age (LGA) have elevated serum DHEAS levels.MethodsA cohort of 49 children born LGA, 56 children born AGA, and 23 children born SGA were studied at 5-8 years of age. Anthropometric data at birth, at the age of 2 years, and at examination were recorded. Fasting blood samples were collected for serum analyses of DHEAS, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and insulin concentrations.ResultsThe children born LGA had lower serum DHEAS levels adjusted for body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS) and age than the rest of the children. Lower birth weight SDS and higher weight gain during the first 2 years of life predicted higher serum DHEAS levels. Higher serum IGF-1 levels were also associated with higher prevalence of adrenarchal DHEAS levels.ConclusionBeing born LGA was associated with lower DHEAS levels, whereas small birth size and early catch-up growth predicted higher levels. This suggests that genetic or early epigenetic factors have an impact on adrenarche. IGF-1 may be a mediator in this process.

Effects of Adrenal Androgen Levels on Bone Age Advancement in Prepubertal Children: Using the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study

Bone age (BA) advancement in prepubertal children may be associated with earlier onset of puberty and obesity. This study aimed to define the effects of adrenal androgen levels on the advancement of BA in prepubertal children, independent of obesity. During July and August 2011, we examined BA in 200 prepubertal children aged 7-9 years who were part of the Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort Study. BA was assessed by the Greulich-Pyle method. An index of BA advancement was calculated as the ratio of BA to chronological age (CA) (BA/CA), and this ratio was classified into 3 tertiles. We analyzed the relationship between BA advancement and anthropometric characteristics and adrenal hormone levels. The number of overweight children increased from the first group to the third group (P(Trend) = 0.03). The levels of adrenal androgens showed a significant positive correlation with the tertile groups after adjusting for age and sex (testosterone: r = 0.26, P < 0.001; dehydroepiandrosterone: r = 0.21, P < 0.001; androstenedione: r = 0.20, P < 0.001). Further, after controlling for body mass index (BMI), sex, and age, the BA/CA was found to be positively correlated with androstenedione (β = 0.04, R² = 3.7%) and testosterone levels (β = 0.05, R² = 4.7%). Based on our results, it is suggested that adrenal androgen levels are associated with BA advancement independent of BMI.

Central precocious puberty: revisiting the diagnosis and therapeutic management

Clinical and laboratory diagnosis and treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) remain challenging due to lack of standardization. The aim of this revision was to address the diagnostic and therapeutic features of CPP in Brazil based on relevant international literature and availability of the existing therapies in the country. The diagnosis of CPP is based mainly on clinical and biochemical parameters, and a period of follow-up is desirable to define the "progressive" form of sexual precocity. This occurs due to the broad spectrum of pubertal development, including isolated premature thelarche, constitutional growth and puberty acceleration, progressive and nonprogressive CPP, and early puberty. Measurement of basal and stimulated LH levels remains challenging, considering that the levels are not always in the pubertal range at baseline, short-acting GnRH is not readily available in Brazil, and the cutoff values differ according to the laboratory assay. When CPP is suspected but basal LH values are at prepubertal range, a stimulation test with short-acting or long-acting monthly GnRH is a diagnostic option. In Brazil, the treatment of choice for progressive CPP and early puberty is a long-acting GnRH analog (GnRHa) administered once a month or every 3 months. In Brazil, formulations of GnRHa (leuprorelin and triptorelin) are available and commonly administered, including 1-month depot leuprorelin 3.75 mg and 7.5 mg, 1-month depot triptorelin 3.75 mg, and 3-month depot leuprorelin 11.25 mg. Monthly or 3-month depot GnRHa are effective and safe to treat CPP. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016;60(2):163-72.

A new dawn for androgens: Novel lessons from 11-oxygenated C19 steroids

The abundant adrenal C19 steroid 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4) has been written off as a dead-end product of adrenal steroidogenesis. However, recent evidence has demonstrated that 11OHA4 is the precursor to the potent androgenic 11-oxygenated steroids, 11-ketotestosterone and 11-ketodihydrotestosterone, that bind and activate the human androgen receptor similarly to testosterone and DHT. The significance of this discovery becomes apparent when considering androgen dependent diseases such as castration resistant prostate cancer and diseases associated with androgen excess, e.g. congenital adrenal hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome. In this review we describe the production and metabolism of 11-oxygenated steroids. We subsequently discuss their androgenic activity and highlight the putative role of these androgens in disease states.

A systematic review of adrenarche as a sensitive period in neurobiological development and mental health

Substantial hormonal and neurobiological changes occur during puberty, and are widely argued to render this period of life a sensitive period in terms of risk for mental health problems. However, there is a paucity of research focusing on adrenarche, the earlier phase of pubertal development. Furthermore, there is a limited understanding of the association between adrenarche and neural development during this phase of life. We systematically reviewed research examining human adrenarcheal development as operationalized by hormonal levels of DHEA and DHEA-S, in relation to indices of mental health (Systematic Review 1). We then reviewed the limited amount of literature that has examined the association between adrenarcheal development and brain structure or function (Systematic Review 2). In general, studies showed that earlier timing of adrenarche was associated with greater mental health symptoms, and there is emerging support that brain development plays a role in this relationship. However, several methodological inconsistencies were noted. We propose that future research in this area test a theoretical model of adrenarche as a sensitive period of neurobiological development, whereby timing of exposure to hormones interacts with brain development, biological sex, and psychosocial stress to influence environmental sensitivity and risk for mental health problems through adolescence.

Maternal Preeclampsia and Androgens in the Offspring around Puberty: A Follow-Up Study

Background

Children born after preeclampsia may have a dominant androgen profile in puberty compared with other children. Circulating androgen concentrations at 11–12 years of age were compared between offspring born after preeclampsia, and children whose mothers did not have preeclampsia.

Methods

A total of 611 mother-offspring pairs were followed up 11 (daughters) or 12 (sons) years after birth: 218 pairs in the preeclampsia group, and 383 pairs without preeclampsia. Circulating total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were measured in the children. In boys, testicular volume was also measured.

Results

Among girls born after preeclampsia, DHEAS concentrations were higher than in unexposed girls (p<0.001), however, girls born after preeclampsia with severe features had the lowest DHEAS levels. In contrast, testosterone concentrations were highest in girls born after preeclampsia with severe features, both compared to other girls in the preeclampsia group, and compared to unexposed girls (p<0.001). For boys, testosterone concentrations were higher in the preeclampsia group compared with unexposed boys (p<0.001), and boys born after preeclampsia with severe features had the lowest concentrations of DHEAS. Compared with unexposed boys, testicular volume (p = 0.015) and IGF-I (p = 0.004) were higher for boys in the preeclampsia group, except for boys in the clinically severe preeclampsia group.

Conclusions

In utero exposure to preeclampsia is associated with androgen hormonal patterns in early puberty that depend on clinical severity of preeclampsia and sex of the offspring. The hormonal differences may reflect different timing of pubertal development, and may have consequences for future health of the offspring.