Association of obesity and hyperandrogenemia in peripubertal girls: obesity as a risk factor for postpubertal hyperandrogenism

The objective of the present work was to assess the degree of hyperandrogenemia across puberty in obese girls. A cross-sectional analysis of data obtained at Out Patients Clinics. Fasting blood samples were extracted from 56 obese [body mass index [BMI] for age >/= 95%] and 55 normal-weight [BMI for age,<85%] peripubertal girls to assess [testosterone T, sex hormone binding globulin SHBG, free testosterone FT. insulin, blood glucose, LH, FSH and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate DHEAS]. BMI and BMI percentile for age were calculated and correlated with these hormones in each stage of puberty. BMI was found to be correlated with total testosterone [T] [rs 0.81], SHBG [rs=-0.93], and free T [rs=0.74]; free T was 3.9 times as great in obese girls compared with normal-weight girls [p<0.001 for all]. BMI correlated with insulin [rs=-0.93]; both insulin and LH correlated with free T [rs=0.71 and 0.70, respectively; p<0.0001 for all]. When analyzing early pubertal girls [pubertal stages 1-3; n=41] alone, BMI correlated with total T [rs=0.97], SHBG [rs=-0.89], and free T [rs=0.96]; free T was 5.2 times as great in obese early-pubertal girls [p<0.001]. BMI correlated with insulin [rs 0.87], and insulin correlated with free T [rs=0.87, p<0.0001 for both]. BMI correlated with free T [rs=0.96, p<0.0001]. In conclusion, peripubertal obesity is associated with marked hyperandrogenemia, which is especially pronounced in early puberty

Clinical evaluation and follow up of autoimmune thyroiditis in children and adolescents [a retrospective study]

The objective of the present study was to assess the clinical manifestations of autoimmune thyroiditis [AlT] in children and adolescents, in addition to disease course and long-term outcome. A retrospective analysis of data obtained at pediatric endocrinology outpatients clinic, Saudi German Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Fifty three children, 11 boys and 42 girls, with diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis and with the age of 12.33 +/- 1.58 years at presentation were included in the study and followed-up in pediatric endocrinology clinic for two years. Clinical characteristics at presentation, reasons for referral, treatment and outcome; by thyroid and pubertal status were recorded. Noticeable goitre was found in 37.75%at time of presentation. Other reasons for referral were clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism [28.3%] and findings on work-up for an unrelated problem [20.7%] or for high-risk groups [13.2%]. Thirteen patients [24.5%] were euthyroid, 18 [34%] had sub-clinical hypothyroidism, and 22 [41.5%] had overt hypothyroidism. The concordance of anti-thyroid peroxidase [anti-TPO] high titers was found in 83%of subjects, while 75.4%of the cases had anti thyroglobulin [ATg] positive titer and both titers were positive in 71.6%. Treatment was initiated shortly after diagnosis in all 22 hypothyroid patients and in 12/18 compensated hypothyroid patients, and within 12 months in two euthyroid patients. Indications for treatment of euthyroid patients were further thyroid enlargement during follow-up, significant increase in TSH concentration, or development of one or more symptoms compatible with hypothyroidism. Ht-SDS at last follow-up was significantly lower than at diagnosis for the entire study group [-0.02 +/- 0.38 vs-0.14 +/- 0.30], p<0.01] but both were within normal Puberty was normal in the studied patients. Forty two [79.2%] had reached their final height by the last follow-up visit [mean Ht-SDS-0.13[0.31] and their final height was within the normal range. There was no significant difference in body mass index SDS at referral by thyroid status. In conclusion, although goitre is the main symptom leading to diagnosis of AlT, it is still often overlooked, underscoring the need for thorough thyroid evaluation on routine physical examination. Acquired hypothyroidism is not often associated with obesity, and ultrasound usually has no added diagnostic value. Adequate treatment in this age group leads to normal growth, puberty and final height

Assessment of carotid intima media thickness in obese children and adolescents

The objectives of the present study aimed to assess the endothelial function in obese children and adolescents by using a non invasive high resolution ultrasound assessment of the carotid intima media thickness [CIMT]. Case control study was conducted on 49 obese children and adolescents comparing them with 34 healthy sex and age matched control group in the New Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University. For all subjects, the following were done: full history tacking and clinical examination, anthropometric measurements of obesity in the form weight, height, BMI, skin fold thickness [SFT], waist circumference and hip circumference, laboratory investigations in the form of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, C-peptide, fasting glucose and insulin. Ultrasound measurements of CIMT were done. Positive correlation was found between the CIMT and the anthropometric measurements including: weight, BMI, BMI SDS, waist circumference, hip circumference, triceps SFT, subscapular SFT and with the supra-cristal SFT. Also a positive correlation between the CIMT and the total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and fasting insulin were found but there were no significant correlation between the CIMT and fasting glucose or C-peptide, while negative correlation between CIMT and HDL was found. the present study conclude that obese children are at increased risk of having thickened CIMT, especially in relation to weight, BMI, skin fold thickness [SFT], waist circumference, hip circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein [LDL] and insulin levels