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Genetic factors may cause constitutional delay of growth and puberty
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Constitutional delay of growth and puberty may not be a problem that exists predominantly among boys, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Researchers from Finland and Boston collected hospital record data from 492 participants with constitutional delay of growth and puberty who were seen in two pediatric clinics in Finland. Participants included 95 boys and 29 girls, along with their first-degree relatives (124 families); second-degree relatives were included in one-third of the families.
Constitutional delay of growth and puberty occurred in first-degree relatives for 80% of boys and 75% of girls. One parent was affected in 45% of all participants and two were affected in 32%. Only siblings were affected in 2% of the participants. Men first-degree relatives had a slightly higher incidence of constitutional delay of growth and puberty than women (79 of 148 [53%] vs. 64 of 164 [39%]; P=.01).
The researchers found consistency between the inheritance pattern of constitutional delay of growth and puberty and autosomal dominant inheritance in 74% of extended unilineal pedigrees. Given their findings, the researchers concluded that predisposing genetic factors may have a dominant effect in the inheritance of constitutional delay of growth and puberty. – by Stacey L. Adams
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93:723-728.