Etiological trends in male central precocious puberty

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Neuroendocrinology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Central precocious puberty (CPP) involves early onset of puberty due to premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
• Understanding etiological trends in male CPP is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
• Previous studies have highlighted varying prevalence rates of idiopathic versus organic CPP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the etiological trends and annual distribution of male central precocious puberty (CPP).
• To analyze the characteristics of idiopathic and organic CPP in a cohort of male patients.
• To identify factors associated with the prevalence of different CPP subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 71 male patients diagnosed with CPP before age 9 between 2001 and 2016.
• Data collected included age at onset, bone age, physical measurements, hormonal levels, and neuroimaging findings.
• Patients were classified into idiopathic (Group I) and organic (Group II) based on the presence of central nervous system lesions or history of chemotherapy.

Main Results:

• Idiopathic CPP accounted for 62% (44 cases) of the cohort, while organic CPP constituted 38% (27 cases).
• The proportion of idiopathic CPP remained higher throughout the study period.
• Puberty onset before age 8 was observed in 51.9% of organic CPP cases, compared to 93.2% of idiopathic CPP cases presenting after age 8.

Conclusions:

• Idiopathic causes are the predominant etiology in male central precocious puberty, representing 62% of cases.
• Later puberty onset (after age 8) without a history of cranial radiotherapy or chemotherapy is associated with a higher probability of idiopathic CPP.
• These findings emphasize the importance of detailed etiological evaluation in male CPP for appropriate clinical management.