Correlation between plasma levels of luteinizing (LH) and folliclestimulating hormones (FSH) and the state of skeletal maturation in a group of children from Medellin, Colombia.

Abstract

In order to analyze the association between skeletal maturation and the changes in the levels of gonadotrophins during the initial stages of puberty, serum levels of luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) were correlated with the state of skeletal maturation (determined by the method of Greulich and Pyle), and with the age, weight, height and sexual maturity (according to the classification of Tanner and using Prader´s orchidometer) in a healthy population of Medellin, Colombia.

Our report includes 16 boys and 15 girls, ranging in age from 8 to 12 years, who completed a total of six blood specimens for hormone levels determination, and six radiographic studies of the carpo-phalangeal bone structures. The study lasted 30 months.

Boys with progressive weight gain showed a trend towards higher concentrations of FSH and a discrete advance in skeletal age. On the other hand, in both girls and boys, changes in the LH values were better associated with the progression of skeletal age with no influence of other variables.