Original ArticlesIncreased adrenocortical and adrenomedullary hormonal activity in 12-year-old children born small for gestational age☆,☆☆
Section snippets
Definitions
SGA was defined as birth weight and/or length and/or ponderal index >2 SD scores below the respective mean for the gestational age.10 The ponderal index was calculated as (weight [g]/length3[cm]) × 100. AGA was defined as birth weight, birth length and ponderal index ≥−2 SD scores and ≤2 SD scores of the respective mean for the gestational age. Full-term applied to babies born at or after week 37 and before the 42nd week of gestation (calculated from the beginning of the last menstruation).
Serum cortisol concentrations and their relationship with plasma catecholamines, serum lipids, and anthropometric measures
The mean serum cortisol concentrations did not differ between the SGA and AGA children (292.5 vs 272.1 nmol/L, P =.624). The SGA boys had significantly higher mean concentrations of serum cortisol than the SGA girls (329.5 vs 271.3 nmol/L, P =.046). Serum cortisol had a positive correlation with plasma E and NE in the SGA group (Table II), whereas in the AGA group, its correlation with E was weaker (r = 0.297, P =.028) and with NE not significant.Serum cortisol levels correlated positively with
Discussion
We have shown an association between high levels of serum cortisol and elevated concentrations of plasma E, serum LDL, and total cholesterol in SGA children at 12 years of age. The SGA children had significantly higher concentrations of serum DHEAS and circulating plasma E when compared with their matched AGA control subjects. In multiple logistic regression analysis, high levels of serum cortisol and LDL cholesterol, and male sex were associated with elevated levels of plasma E in the SGA
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In utero and postnatal programing of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in young adult women
2020, Reproductive ToxicologyCitation Excerpt :The heterogeneity of DHEAS associations with breast composition by menarche status underscores the likely shifting role of adrenal function according to critical developmental windows. For example, we did not find a strong correlation of size at birth with DHEAS in young adulthood although others have reported an inverse correlation of birthweight with DHEAS levels at age 8 [49] and in adolescence [50–52]. The relation of adult levels of DHEAS to breast cancer also demonstrates heterogeneity by age at blood sampling and/ or age at diagnosis.
Cortisol and DHEA in development and psychopathology
2017, Hormones and BehaviorCitation Excerpt :Low birth weight has been associated with lower DHEA-S levels in blood and urine among newborns (Ong et al., 2002). However, during childhood and adolescence, being born low birth weight or small for gestational age predicted higher serum DHEA-S levels (Ibáñez et al., 1999; Tenhola et al., 2002). Although the reason for this reversal in DHEA-S from the neonatal period to later life is unclear, one possibility is the rapid ‘catch-up’ in weight gain often experienced by low birth weight children (Ong et al., 2002).
Premature adrenarche: Etiology, clinical findings, and consequences
2015, Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCitation Excerpt :In the same PP cohort, premature birth was traced in 24% of the PP children, and rapid weight gain and overweight also associated with PP [91]. If we look at the follow-up studies of SGA cohorts, very few SGA-born children have been reported to develop PA [81,92]. Thus, it seems that being born SGA does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of PA in full-term-born children in most populations, but preterm birth may increase the risk of adrenal hyperandrogenism even until early adulthood.
Girls with Premature Adrenarche Have Accelerated Early Childhood Growth
2009, Journal of PediatricsCitation Excerpt :This and the similar prevalence of SGA subjects in the PA and control groups suggests that small birth size is not a major contributor to the pathogenesis of PA in our study population. This conclusion is further supported by the previous finding that none of the 55 SGA-born subjects from the same geographical area developed PA, even though they had slightly higher serum DHEAS concentrations compared with controls of appropriate birth size.18 Any discrepancies between our present findings and previous findings are likely due to differences in the study populations.
BMI increase during early childhood in boys with cystic fibrosis and early adrenarche
2024, Pediatric Pulmonology
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Supported by the Pediatric Research Foundation, Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Kuopio University Hospital, Academy of Finland, and Emil Aaltonen Foundation.
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Reprint requests: Raimo Voutilainen, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.