A boy with Prader-Willi syndrome: unmasking precocious puberty during growth hormone replacement therapy

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Nov-Dec;60(6):596-600. doi: 10.1590/2359-3997000000196. Epub 2016 Aug 25.

Abstract

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder frequently characterized by obesity, growth hormone deficiency, genital abnormalities, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Incomplete or delayed pubertal development as well as premature adrenarche are usually found in PWS, whereas central precocious puberty (CPP) is very rare. This study aimed to report the clinical and biochemical follow-up of a PWS boy with CPP and to discuss the management of pubertal growth. By the age of 6, he had obesity, short stature, and many clinical criteria of PWS diagnosis, which was confirmed by DNA methylation test. Therapy with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement (0.15 IU/kg/day) was started. Later, he presented psychomotor agitation, aggressive behavior, and increased testicular volume. Laboratory analyses were consistent with the diagnosis of CPP (gonadorelin-stimulated LH peak 15.8 IU/L, testosterone 54.7 ng/dL). The patient was then treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa). Hypothalamic dysfunctions have been implicated in hormonal disturbances related to pubertal development, but no morphologic abnormalities were detected in the present case. Additional methylation analysis (MS-MLPA) of the chromosome 15q11 locus confirmed PWS diagnosis. We presented the fifth case of CPP in a genetically-confirmed PWS male. Combined therapy with GnRHa and rhGH may be beneficial in this rare condition of precocious pubertal development in PWS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • DNA Methylation
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy / methods
  • Human Growth Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / genetics
  • Puberty, Precocious / complications
  • Puberty, Precocious / drug therapy*
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

Grants and funding

Funding sources: research productivity grant from the Fundação Araucária (TLM). Grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq (CMR, ACL), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Capes (NGL, DB) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – Fapesp 2013/06391-1 (DBM, ACL).