The influence of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist treatment on the body weight and body mass index in girls with idiopathic precocious puberty and early puberty

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment on the weight and body mass index (BMI) of girls who were diagnosed with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) or early puberty (EP). METHODS: Patients who were younger than 8 years of age at diagnosis were classified as CPP and patients aged between 8 and 9 years at diagnosis were classified as EP. Of 129 patients, 34 were diagnosed with CPP and 95 were diagnosed with EP. The patients were divided according to pretreatment weight status into normal weight group, an overweight group, or an obese group. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed with respect to the weight standard deviation score (SDS) before and after 1 year, 2 years of treatment, respectively (P>0.05, P>0.05) in all patient groups. No significant changes were observed in relation to the BMI SDS before and after 1 year, 2 years of treatment, respectively (P>0.05, P>0.05) in all patient group. Depending on the degree of obesity, differences with respect to the weight SDS and BMI SDS were observed. CONCLUSION: BMI SDS increased in the GnRHa-treated patients as a whole group, but was not statistically significant. But BMI SDS increased significantly in the normal weight group after 2 years of GnRHa treatment. So, GnRHa treatment may affect the change of BMI SDS depending on degree of obesity.

Vitamin D Status in Early Preterm Infants

PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency is still common in pregnant women and infants, especially preterm infants. This study evaluated the prevalence, characteristics, and prenatal and postnatal complications associated with vitamin D deficiency in preterm infants. METHODS: Preterm infants (gestational age of <32 weeks, delivered between January 2014 and December 2014) were divided into two groups according to umbilical cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (deficiency group, <20 ng/mL; non-deficiency group, ≥20 ng/mL), and associated factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the preterm infants was 14.3±9.7 ng/mL. 80% (78 out of 98) of subjects had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL), and 45% (44 out of 98) of preterm infants had a severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL). No seasonal variation was observed in 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Mean gestational age and birth weight were lower in the deficiency group. The serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations, which reflect bone metabolism, were significantly different between the two groups, but not the serum phosphorous concentrations. Maternal prenatal complications and infant complications were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high, and it is a persistent problem among Korean mothers and their newborn infants, especially preterm infants. Thus, it is important to prevent vitamin D deficiency by early detection of the deficiency and supplementation of vitamin D.