Patients may have spontaneous breast and pubic hair development, oligomenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea while complete forms have absent pubarche and
adrenarche. Furthermore, patients with partial forms may be normokalemic and normotensive (15).
Moreover, DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) define
adrenarche. Our results show that starting from 6 years of age, the level of DHEA increased with age, which is likely to be related to the adrenal morphology and alterations of steroidogenic enzyme expression.
Lazar, "Interrelationship of extent of precocious
adrenarche in appropriate for gestational age girls with clinical outcome," The Journal of Pediatrics, vol.
(14) In a 7 year-old girl with CMT1A due to the duplication 17p10-p12 dysmorphic facial features, dislocation of hips, talipes, developmental delay, premature
adrenarche, and deep palmar creases supplemented the phenotype.
The classical form presents in infancy, and the nonclassical form presents later in childhood, leading to growth acceleration, premature
adrenarche, or menstrual abnormalities.
Another recent study by Ellis also merits special attention as it reveals that family processes predict
adrenarche (Ellis & Essex, 2007), a first stage of pubertal development involving the maturation of the adrenal gland which carries with it no changes in secondary sex characteristics but coincides with the emergence of sexual orientation (Herdt & McClintock, 2000).
Prepubertal girls with premature
adrenarche have an increased prevalence of childhood metabolic syndrome, which may be due mainly to their overweight and hyperinsulinism, according to a study.
"
Adrenarche and puberty." In: Adrenal Androgens in Clinical Medicine.
It has been clear for many years that DHEA, although a weak androgen, is present in the greatest quantity in the circulation and is secreted during
adrenarche, prior to menarche, beginning at ages 8 to 10.
Adrenarche. Endocrinology Metabolism Clinics North America, 20, 71-83.
Between the ages of 5 and 9,
adrenarche occurs, resulting in increased secretion of many adrenal steroids (cortisol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandosterone).