Premature adrenarche-normal variant or forerunner of adult disease?

Adrenarche is the puberty of the adrenal gland. The descriptive term pubarc he indicates the appearance of pubic hair, which may he accompanied by axil lary hair. This process is considered premature if it occurs before age 8 y r in girls and 9 yr in boys. The chief hormonal product of adrenarche is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) a nd its sulfated product DHEA-S. The well documented evolution of adrenarche in primates and man is incompatible with either a neutral or harmful role for DHEA and implies most likely a positive role for some aspect of young a dult pubertal maturation and developmental maturation. Premature adrenarche has no adverse effects on the onset and progression of gonadarche in final height. Both extra- and intraadrenal factors regulate adrenal androgen secretion. R ecent studies have shown that premature adrenarche in childhood may have co nsequences such as functional ovarian hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and insulin resistance in later life, sometimes already recogniza ble in childhood or adolescence. Premature adrenarche may thus be a forerun ner of syndrome X in some children. The association of these endocrine-meta bolic abnormalities with reduced fetal growth and their genetic basis remai n to be elucidated.