Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To study clinical presentation peculiarities of constitutional puberty delay in boys.

Materials and methods: We examined 54 boys (mean age 13.8 years) with constitutional puberty delay (CPD). All examinees underwent general clinical examination as well as biochemical and hormonal investigations (levels of GH, LH, FSH, free testosterone, prolactin, cortisol, TSH, etc.), having their bone age and anthropometric parameters by Tanner-Whitehouse measured and their sexual development stage by Tanner assessed.

Results: Most frequently the patients presented with vertigo (32%), fatigue (30%), headaches (29%), general weakness (28%), memory reduction (25%), irritability (24%), sleep disorders (17.4%), etc. As to degree of manifestation growth and puberty delay was observed in 17%, growth, puberty and speech delay in 4.3%, delay in growth, puberty, speech and psycho-motor development being found in 1.06% of the patients. Nocturnal enuresis (45%), chronic pyelonephritis (31%), neurotic asthenia (30%), vegeto-vascular dystonia (28%), chronic tonsillitis (23%) and chronic hepatitis (10%) were among the comorbidities to name.

Conclusions: Multiple clinical presentation peculiarities are typical of constitutional puberty delay necessitating further detailed study.