OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of secondary sex characteristics and hormonal profile in obese girls at puberty.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
89 obese girls, mean age 16.31±8.13 years (13—17 years) included in the study group, were examined. The control group comprised 25 virtually healthy pubertal girls aged 16.59±0.09 years (16—17 years). In all adolescent girls included in the study, the features of physical and sexual development were determined, the expression of secondary sexual characteristics according to the J. Tanner scale was investigated. Tanner scale, the values of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid hormone, prolactin, estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, cortisol in serum immunoassay were determined.
RESULTS
It was shown that maternal history of obesity, large fetal birth, acute infectious diseases in pregnancy, hypertensive conditions in pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus could be the risk factors of adolescent obesity in pubertal girls. Obese adolescent girls show delayed mammary gland development, increased hairiness in the axillary and suprapubic regions, and an irregular menstrual cycle. The hirsut number of the given contingent of girls on the Ferriman-Qolvey scale was 20.1±0.13. Study of the hormonal profile revealed increased LH level, LH/FSH ratio, hyperprolactinemia, hyperandrogenism of adreno-ovarian genesis, and also change of adrenal and thyroid functional activity, characterized by increased levels of cortisol and thyroxine.
CONCLUSION
The identified features of hormonal background changes can be the basis for the development of pathogenetic methods to correct the identified abnormalities in adolescent girls with obesity.