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Endocrine-sensitive physical endpoints in newborns: ranges and predictors.
Rachana Shah1,2, Belal Alshaikh3,4,5, Joan I Schall3
1Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. shahr@email.chop.edu.
Pediatric Research
|May 13, 2020
Summary
This study measured physical characteristics in healthy newborns, finding differences in breast bud size, anogenital distance (AGD), penile length (SPL), and testicular volume (TV) based on sex and race. These measurements provide a baseline for assessing fetal environmental exposures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neonatal Development
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Endocrine-sensitive physical endpoints in neonates may indicate fetal environmental exposure effects.
- Standardized measurement studies for these endpoints are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative physical measurements for endocrine-sensitive tissues in healthy US newborns.
- To analyze associations between these measurements and demographic/clinical factors.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 388 healthy term newborns (<3 days old).
- Measured breast bud diameter, anogenital distance (AGD), stretched penile length (SPL), and testicular volume (TV).
- Analyzed data considering race, gestational age, and weight.
Main Results:
- Females had larger breast buds than males; size correlated with gestational age and weight Z-score, negatively with White race.
- Males had longer AGD than females; SPL was shorter in White infants.
- Testicular volume (TV) was larger in White males.
Conclusions:
- Provides contemporary physical measurement ranges for endocrine-sensitive tissues in US infants.
- Identifies demographic and clinical factors associated with these measurements.
- Establishes a baseline for future studies on prenatal/postnatal exposure effects.
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