Premature thelarche: clinical and laboratorial assessment by immunochemiluminescent assay

Abstract

In order to establish cut-off limits and to distinguish isolated premature thelarche (IPT) from precocious puberty (PP), we evaluated data from 79 girls with premature thelarche, comparing basal and stimulated LH and FSH serum concentrations with those from 91 healthy girls. A GnRH stimulation test was performed in 10 normal girls and in 42 with premature thelarche. Comparison among groups was performed by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s tests. LH values were significantly greater in girls with IPT than in control groups. Basal gonadotropin concentrations were higher in patients with PP than in controls, but not different from patients with IPT. Peak LH levels after GnRH stimulation distinguished those two groups, with a cut-off value of 4.0 IU/L, but still with minimal overlap. In conclusion, a girl with premature thelarche and LH peak value above 4.5 IU/L has, indeed, PP, but values between 3.5 and 4.5 IU/L point to careful follow-up.