ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinical characteristics,aetiology distribution,and metabolic risk parameters of patients with with premature pubarche(PP). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 55 patients affected by PP,who received ACTH stimulation test,and the data were evaluated. Among them 17 cases were detected CYP21 A2 gene,and indicators of lipid metabolism of idiopathic premature adrenarche(IPA,15 cases)and idiopathic premature pubarche(IPP,14 cases)were analyzed. RESULTS: The sample included 55 patients with PP(53 female and 2 male),with a mean pubarche age of(7.2±0.9)years for girls and(7±0.8)years for boys. There was an accelerated bone age(BA/CA ratio>1)(1.20 ± 1.5)in girls. A total of 9 patients were classified as non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia(NCCAH,16.4%),15 as IPA(27.3%),14 as IPP(25.4%),16 as HPGA function launch(29.1%)and 1 with exaggerated adrenarche(EA,1.8%). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic rate of NCCAH between ACTH stimulation test and CYP21 A2 gene detection(P=0.596). The sex hormone binding protein(SHBP)of IPA was reduced(P=0.007). CONCLUSION: The etiology of premature pubarche-non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia(16.4%)is not uncommon. The ACTH stimulation test is useful for the diagnosis of NCCAH,but the sensitivity is not 100%.