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Age of menarche in girls with cystic fibrosis

Wioleta Umławska1, Dorota Sands, Anna Zielińska

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Wrocław, Poland. wilota@antropo.uni.wroc.pl

Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica
|August 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Girls with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience menarche approximately two years later than healthy peers. Specific CFTR mutations are linked to the timing of this crucial pubertal milestone in CF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) is frequently associated with malnutrition, impaired growth, and delayed puberty in affected children.
  • Understanding pubertal development, specifically menarche, is crucial for assessing overall health and well-being in girls with CF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the age of menarche in girls diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
  • To investigate the correlation between different types of CFTR gene mutations and the onset of menarche.
  • To compare menarche timing in CF patients with the general healthy population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of somatic data from the medical records of 47 girls aged 11-18 years with cystic fibrosis.
  • Data collection included age at menarche, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), and CFTR mutation type.
  • Statistical comparison of menarche age and related parameters between CF patients and healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • The average age of menarche in the study group was 14.65 years, representing a significant delay of approximately 2 years compared to healthy girls.
  • Girls who had reached menarche were statistically older and taller than their non-menstruating counterparts.
  • A significant association was identified between the type of CFTR mutation and the age of menarche onset.

Conclusions:

  • Girls with cystic fibrosis experience a notable delay in menarche, even with contemporary medical interventions.
  • The type of CFTR mutation plays a role in the timing of puberty onset.
  • Further clinical and auxological research is warranted to comprehensively understand growth and pubertal development challenges in children with CF.
Abstract

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