Adrenarche, pubertal development, age at menarche and final height of full-term, born small for gestational age (SGA) girls

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) may present advanced bone mat uration in childhood and reduced final height. The objectives of the study were to evaluate adrenarche, pubertal development, age at menarche and fina l height in full-term born-SGA girls. Twenty-four girls (12 born-SGA and 12 matched controls) were evaluated at 6-7.5 years of age for clinical signs of puberty and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DNEAS) levels, as a marker o f adrenarche. Thirty-eight girls (19 born-SGA and 19 matched controls) were evaluated at 17.5-18.5 years of age to assess final height, sexual maturat ion and age at menarche. SGA girls had a mean final height (160.1 cm vs 165 .8 cm, p < 0.01) and mean weight (52.1 kg vs 56.5 kg, p < 0. 05) significan tly lower than controls. Controls had a mean final height significantly hig her than their mean target height. Sexual maturation was at stage 5 of Tann er's staging in SGA girls and control subjects. SGA girls had a slightly an ticipated puberty (9.9 vs 10.4 years for initial breast development) and a lower age at menarche (11.9 vs 22.3 years). At 6-7.5 years of age, SGA fema les and controls did not show any difference for clinical signs of puberty; however, DHEAS levels (0.75 + 0. 18 mug/ml vs 0.57 + 0.22 mug/ml, p < 0. 0 5) were significantly higher in SGA girls than in control subjects. We concluded that full-term born-SGA females have impaired final height and weighs in adolescence but substantially normal sexual maturation and age a t menarche. Increased DHEAS levels before puberty in born-SGA girls may pre dispose to increased bone maturation in childhood with a reduced final heig ht. In our population a progressive increment in final stature is evident.