Serum gonadotropins in hypothyroid girls with and without sexual precocity

Peter Lee, R. M. Blizzard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Elevated serum gonadotropins were found in an untreated hypothyroid girl with sexual precocity and markedly elevated serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations. In contrast, increased levels of gonadotropins were not present in patients with mild to moderately elevated TSH levels who did not have sexual precocity. The serum gonadotropin concentrations in the girl with premature sexual development regressed after her TSH levels returned to normal aftertreatment of her hypothyroidism. This study suggests that the clinical evidence of sexual precocity that occurs in some children with hypothyroidism is the result of increased LH and FSH secretion. The increased gonadotropin secretion occurs when hypothyroidism and TSH hypersecretion are marked and the mechanism involves more than a non specific overflow of tropic hormone synthesis since gonadotropin secretion does not return to base line until after TSH has returned.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)55-60
Number of pages6
JournalJohns Hopkins Medical Journal
Volume135
Issue number1
StatePublished - 1974

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

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