TY - JOUR
T1 - A longitudinal study of growth, sex steroids and IGF-1 in boys with physiological gynaecomastia
AU - Mieritz, Mikkel G.
AU - Raket, Lars Lau
AU - Hagen, Casper P.
AU - Nielsen, John E.
AU - Talman, Maj-Lis Møller
AU - Petersen, Jørgen Holm
AU - Sommer, Stefan Horst
AU - Main, Katharina Maria
AU - Jørgensen, Niels
AU - Juul, Anders
N1 - PMID: 26287961
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Context: Physiological gynecomastia is common and affects a large proportion of otherwise healthy adolescent boys. It is thought to be caused by an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone, although this is rarely evident in analyses of serum. Objective: This study aimed to describe the frequency of physiological gynecomastia and to determine possible etiological factors (eg, auxology and serum hormone levels) in a longitudinal setup. Design, Settings, and Participants:Aprospective cohort study of 106 healthy Danish boys (5.8-16.4 years) participated in the longitudinal part of the COPENHAGEN Puberty Study. The boys were examined every 6 months during an 8-year follow-up. Median number of examinations was 10 (2-15). Main outcome measurements: Blood samples were analyzed for FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, IGF-1, and IGF binding protein-3 by immunoassays. Auxological parameters, pubertal development, and the presence of gynecomastia were evaluated at each visit. Results: Fifty-two of 106 boys (49%) developed gynecomastia, of which 10 (19%) presented with intermittent gynecomastia. Boys with physiological gynecomastia reached peak height velocity at a significantly younger age than boys who did not develop gynecomastia (13.5 versus 13.9 years, P<.027), and they had significantly higher serum levels of IGF-1 (P<.000), estradiol (P=.013), free testosterone (P < .001), and FSH (P = .030) during pubertal transition. However, no differences in serum LH or in the estradiol to testosterone ratio were found. Conclusions: Gynecomastia is frequent in pubertal boys. Increased IGF-1 levelsandpubertalgrowth appear to be associated, whereas changes in estrogen to testosterone ratio seem negligible.
AB - Context: Physiological gynecomastia is common and affects a large proportion of otherwise healthy adolescent boys. It is thought to be caused by an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone, although this is rarely evident in analyses of serum. Objective: This study aimed to describe the frequency of physiological gynecomastia and to determine possible etiological factors (eg, auxology and serum hormone levels) in a longitudinal setup. Design, Settings, and Participants:Aprospective cohort study of 106 healthy Danish boys (5.8-16.4 years) participated in the longitudinal part of the COPENHAGEN Puberty Study. The boys were examined every 6 months during an 8-year follow-up. Median number of examinations was 10 (2-15). Main outcome measurements: Blood samples were analyzed for FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, IGF-1, and IGF binding protein-3 by immunoassays. Auxological parameters, pubertal development, and the presence of gynecomastia were evaluated at each visit. Results: Fifty-two of 106 boys (49%) developed gynecomastia, of which 10 (19%) presented with intermittent gynecomastia. Boys with physiological gynecomastia reached peak height velocity at a significantly younger age than boys who did not develop gynecomastia (13.5 versus 13.9 years, P<.027), and they had significantly higher serum levels of IGF-1 (P<.000), estradiol (P=.013), free testosterone (P < .001), and FSH (P = .030) during pubertal transition. However, no differences in serum LH or in the estradiol to testosterone ratio were found. Conclusions: Gynecomastia is frequent in pubertal boys. Increased IGF-1 levelsandpubertalgrowth appear to be associated, whereas changes in estrogen to testosterone ratio seem negligible.
U2 - 10.1210/jc.2015-2836
DO - 10.1210/jc.2015-2836
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 26287961
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 100
SP - 3752
EP - 3759
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 10
ER -