Timing of Pubertal Onset in Girls and Boys With Constitutional Delay. 2021

Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

The decision whether to treat a child with delayed puberty with sex steroids is primarily based on patient, family, and provider preference. Knowing when children with constitutional delay eventually enter puberty would inform this decision. To estimate and compare rates of pubertal entry, we conducted a retrospective cohort study by reviewing medical records of children evaluated for delayed puberty at a large academic medical center between 2000 and 2015, extracting data on pubertal status for all clinical visits, then conducting time-to-event analyses. Of 392 girls and 683 boys with delayed puberty, constitutional delay was the most common cause, found in 32% of girls and 70% of boys. In a subcohort of 97 girls and 243 boys who were prepubertal at one or more visits, we observed a broad age range for pubertal entry, up to >16 years for girls and >17 years for boys. The probability of entering puberty within the next year for 12- to 15.5-year-old girls and 13.5- to 16.5-year-old boys with delayed puberty ranged between 38% and 74%. No differences in the rates of pubertal entry were seen between girls and boys after data harmonization. The broad range of ages at pubertal entry for children with constitutional delay challenges the concept that constitutional delay is merely an extreme of normal variation. Discussions with patients and families about management should consider the possibility that some children may need to wait years after presentation until puberty starts.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007006 Hypogonadism Condition resulting from deficient gonadal functions, such as GAMETOGENESIS and the production of GONADAL STEROID HORMONES. It is characterized by delay in GROWTH, germ cell maturation, and development of secondary sex characteristics. Hypogonadism can be due to a deficiency of GONADOTROPINS (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) or due to primary gonadal failure (hypergonadotropic hypogonadism). Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism,Hypogonadism, Isolated Hypogonadotropic,Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism,Hypogonadism, Hypergonadotropic,Hypogonadism, Hypogonadotropic
D008297 Male Males
D011627 Puberty A period in the human life in which the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system takes place and reaches full maturity. The onset of synchronized endocrine events in puberty lead to the capacity for reproduction (FERTILITY), development of secondary SEX CHARACTERISTICS, and other changes seen in ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT. Puberties
D011628 Puberty, Delayed The lack of development of SEXUAL MATURATION in boys and girls at a chronological age that is 2.5 standard deviations above the mean age at onset of PUBERTY in a population. Delayed puberty can be classified by defects in the hypothalamic LHRH pulse generator, the PITUITARY GLAND, or the GONADS. These patients will undergo spontaneous but delayed puberty whereas patients with SEXUAL INFANTILISM will not. Delayed Puberty
D001823 Body Composition The relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat. Body Compositions,Composition, Body,Compositions, Body
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002658 Developmental Disabilities Disorders in which there is a delay in development based on that expected for a given age level or stage of development. These impairments or disabilities originate before age 18, may be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitute a substantial impairment. Biological and nonbiological factors are involved in these disorders. (From American Psychiatric Glossary, 6th ed) Child Development Deviations,Child Development Disorders,Child Development Disorders, Specific,Developmental Delay Disorders,Disabilities, Developmental,Development Disorders, Child,Child Development Deviation,Child Development Disorder,Development Deviation, Child,Development Deviations, Child,Development Disorder, Child,Developmental Delay Disorder,Developmental Disability,Deviation, Child Development,Disability, Developmental
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

Related Publications

Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
July 2016, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
November 2020, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
July 2021, The Journal of pediatrics,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
January 2023, Evolution, medicine, and public health,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
January 1997, Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
September 2010, Developmental psychology,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
December 2017, Journal of autism and developmental disorders,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
January 1999, Hormone research,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
May 2021, Journal of youth and adolescence,
Elfa Jonsdottir-Lewis, and Amalia Feld, and Ryan Ciarlo, and Erica Denhoff, and Henry A Feldman, and Yee-Ming Chan
September 2015, Journal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!