RESUMO
Eighty children (58 girls and 22 boys) with isosexual precocity seen in the past eight years were evaluated clinically and investigated to identify the underlying cause. Of these, 50% (29 girls and 11 boys) had centrally mediated true precocious puberty (TPP). The girls could be classified into five major groups (I) Central precocious puberty 29-subclassified into idiopathic (ITPP, 15) and organic or neurogenic (NTTP, 14), (II) Premature thelarche (PT, 20), (III) Premature menarche (PM, 2), (IV) Premature adrenarche (PA, 5), and, (V) Others: hypothyroid (n = 1), and McCune Albright Syndrome (n = 1). ITPP as a cause of precocity in girls was seen less often (52%) and NTPP more often (48%) compared to most Western series, with tubercular meningitis as the cause in 31% and hypothalamic hamartomas in 10%. Though the LH and estradiol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in TPP, compared to PT, these were not helpful in differentiating because of considerable overlap. LH-predominant-response (LH/FSH ratio > 1) to LHRH testing was seen in TPP. Amongst the 22 boys, 11 (50%) had TPP, ITPP in 27% and NTPP in 73%. Hamartomas (n = 4) and TBM (n = 3) contributed equally to NTPP; pineal tumor was seen in one. The adrenal (n = 7) and testicular (n = 2) causes together involved 41% of the boys with precocity, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) CAH, 11-beta hydroxylase being the commonest cause. Of the 6 boys witdeficiency was found in four and nonsalt losing form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in 2. Testicular and adrenal tumors and testotoxicosis were noted in one case each. The etiologic factors were more varied in boys.