TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex, age, pubertal development and use of oral contraceptives in relation to serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEAS, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, Δ4-androstenedione, testosterone and their ratios in children, adolescents and young adults
AU - Søeborg, Tue
AU - Frederiksen, Hanne
AU - Mouritsen, Annette
AU - Johannsen, Trine Holm
AU - Main, Katharina Maria
AU - Jørgensen, Niels
AU - Petersen, Jørgen Holm
AU - Andersson, Anna-Maria
AU - Juul, Anders
N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - The influence of sex, age, pubertal development and oral contraceptives on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), Δ4-androstenedione (Adione), testosterone (T), calculated free testosterone (fT), free androgen index (FAI) and selected ratios in 1798 serum samples from healthy children, adolescents and young adults was evaluated. Samples were analyzed by Turboflow-LC-MS/MS. Sex hormone-binding globulin was analyzed by immunoassay. All steroid metabolite concentrations were positively associated with age and pubertal development in both sexes and generally higher in males than in females except for Adione. The pubertal rise in T in males was more pronounced compared to females, reflecting contribution from the testes. Ratios between steroid metabolites varied and depended on sex and age. All ratios were lower during infancy compared to later in life. Use of oral contraceptives significantly lowered serum concentrations of all steroid metabolites, fT, FAI, the 17-OHP/Adione, the Adione/T and the DHEA/Adione ratios, but not the DHEA/DHEAS ratio. We provide reference ranges for DHEA, DHEAS, 17-OHP, Adione, T, fT, FAI and selected ratios in relation to sex, age and pubertal development. Use of oral contraceptives strongly influences adrenal steroidogenesis and should be considered when diagnosing and monitoring treatment of patients with disorders of sex development.
AB - The influence of sex, age, pubertal development and oral contraceptives on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), Δ4-androstenedione (Adione), testosterone (T), calculated free testosterone (fT), free androgen index (FAI) and selected ratios in 1798 serum samples from healthy children, adolescents and young adults was evaluated. Samples were analyzed by Turboflow-LC-MS/MS. Sex hormone-binding globulin was analyzed by immunoassay. All steroid metabolite concentrations were positively associated with age and pubertal development in both sexes and generally higher in males than in females except for Adione. The pubertal rise in T in males was more pronounced compared to females, reflecting contribution from the testes. Ratios between steroid metabolites varied and depended on sex and age. All ratios were lower during infancy compared to later in life. Use of oral contraceptives significantly lowered serum concentrations of all steroid metabolites, fT, FAI, the 17-OHP/Adione, the Adione/T and the DHEA/Adione ratios, but not the DHEA/DHEAS ratio. We provide reference ranges for DHEA, DHEAS, 17-OHP, Adione, T, fT, FAI and selected ratios in relation to sex, age and pubertal development. Use of oral contraceptives strongly influences adrenal steroidogenesis and should be considered when diagnosing and monitoring treatment of patients with disorders of sex development.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Age Factors
KW - Androstenedione
KW - Biological Markers
KW - Child
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Cohort Studies
KW - Contraceptives, Oral
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Dehydroepiandrosterone
KW - Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Infant
KW - Male
KW - Progesterone
KW - Puberty
KW - Sex Factors
KW - Testosterone
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1016/j.cca.2014.06.018
DO - 10.1016/j.cca.2014.06.018
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24976611
SN - 0009-8981
VL - 437
SP - 6
EP - 13
JO - Clinica Chimica Acta
JF - Clinica Chimica Acta
ER -