Abstract
Precocious puberty (PP) in girls refers to secondary sexual development occurring
earlier than the lower end of normal for the onset of puberty. It might be the presenting
feature of a serious underlying condition or signify a common variation of normal
for which no treatment is necessary. Depending on the source and type of sex steroids
involved, clinical findings may indicate exposure to estrogens, androgens, or both.
Likewise, the onset of the PP might be gradual or abrupt and the rate of progression
is variable. Recent years have witnessed exciting advancements in the understanding
of the molecular genetic basis for some forms of PP in girls as well as in the development
of additional treatment options. In this review an update on the most commonly encountered
causes of PP in girls including their clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis,
and management are provided. Recommendations regarding when to refer, and areas in
particular need of additional research are also delineated.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 31, 2019
Footnotes
The author participates in clinical trials of long-acting GnRH analogues sponsored by Tolmar/Orphan Reach and AbbVie pharmaceuticals.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc.
