ABSTRACT
Pubertal development may be altered in boys with cryptorchidism and hypospadias, but existing knowledge is inconsistent. Therefore, we investigated the association between cryptorchidism and hypospadias and pubertal development in a large cohort study. Boys in the Puberty Cohort, a cohort nested within the Danish National Birth Cohort, were included in this study. Information on cryptorchidism and hypospadias was retrieved from the Danish National Patient Register. From 11 years until 18 years or full pubertal development, information on physical markers of pubertal development was provided biannually, including Tanner stages, axillary hair, acne, voice break, and first ejaculation. In multivariate regression models for interval censored data, the mean (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) differences in months in obtaining the pubertal markers between boys with and without the anomalies were estimated. Among 7698 boys, 196 (2.5%) had cryptorchidism and 60 (0.8%) had hypospadias. Boys with hypospadias experienced first ejaculation and voice break 7.7 (95% CI: 2.5-13.0) months and 4.5 (95% CI: 0.3-8.7) months later than boys without hypospadias. The age at attaining the Tanner stages for gonadal and pubic hair growth was also higher, though not statistically significant. Pubertal development seemed unaffected in boys with mild as well as severe cryptorchidism. In conclusion, hypospadias may be associated with delayed pubertal development, but pubertal development seems unaffected by cryptorchidism. The relation between hypospadias and later pubertal development may be due to the underlying shared in utero risk or genetic factors.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the pattern of plasma kisspeptin levels in normal female during various pubertal Tanner stages and the girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP) or with premature thelarche(PT), and to evaluate the significance of detecting plasma kisspeptin levels as a new criterion for early differentiation between ICPP and PT.Methods Each study group of normal pubertal females with Tanner stage Ⅰ to Ⅴ comprised 16 to 19 individuals.The levels of plasma kisspeptin were also detected in girls with ICPP(n= 10)or PT(n = 12).The plasma kisspeptin levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The level of kisspeptin was significantly higher in ICPP group than in that of PT group [(1.73±0.23 vs1.43±0.29) ng/ml, P＜0.05].Among the normal pubertal females, the level of kisspeptin decreased gradually from Tanner stage Ⅱ to Tanner stage Ⅴ, being highest in Tanner stage Ⅱ [(1.73±0.22) ag/ml] ,lower in stage Ⅳ and Ⅴ than in stage Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P＜0.01).Conclusions Plasma kisspeptin level was the highest during Tanner stage Ⅱ in normal female pubertal development.It is significant to detect plasma kisspeptin level for the differential diagnosis of ICPP and PT.