92 ADRENAL STEROID CONCENTRATIONS IN CHILDREN BETWEEN 7 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE. (1st January 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meikle, A. W.; Roberts, W. L.; Bunker, A.; Kushner, M.; Rockwood, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of investigative medicine. Volume 54:Number 1(2006)
• Page Start: S95
• Page End: S95
• Publication Date: 2006-01-01
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Medicine; Research -- United States; Clinical medicine; Medicine -- Research; Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.2310/6650.2005.X0004.91
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-5589

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Dramatic changes in serum sex steroid concentrations occur in children during puberty, but observations are limited on adrenal steroid concentrations in children before and after puberty. The objective of this study was to determine the reference interval of adrenal steroid concentrations in children before and after puberty. Methods: We collected serum samples from boys and girls in each year of age from 7 to 17 years. Tanner stage was determined in each child by physical examination. The minimum number of each sex for each year of age was 62. Serum concentrations of 11-deoxycortisol (S), pregnenolone (preg), 17-hydroxypreg (17OHPreg), and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), which were determined by LC MS/MS, and androstenedione (A) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), which were determined by immunoassay. Results: Nonparametric reference intervals were developed for the steroid concentrations. The median and central 95% of the steroid concentrations were determined. Except for S, all of the steroids exhibited an increase in concentration after age 7-9 years in both boys and girls. DS and A increased three- to fourfold and preg, 17OHpreg and 17OHP increased about twofold in children after age 9 compared to children ages 7-9 years. Since S is exclusively made in the adrenal cortex and does not change with age, it suggests that as children age a rise in gonadal function and adrenarche may contribute somewhat to the increase of the remaining steroids. Conclusions: This is the most extensive reference interval study of adrenal steroids conducted in pubertal age children. Following pubertal occurrence, the rise in serum concentration of all steroids except for S was parallel between boys and girls.