| [ Summary ] |
Puberty is characterized by sexual maturation and a marked acceleration of statural growth (growth spurt), both of which are caused by an increase of gonadal hormone. Chronic renal failure and its treatment may interfere with pubertal development (sexual maturation) and growth. In children with chronic renal failure, the onset of puberty is delayed by 2 years on average and pubertal height gain is only about 50% of that in healthy children. The degree of hypergonadotropism is inadequate to compensate for the degree of hypogonadism present, suggesting a defect in hypophyseal gonadotropin secretion in children with chronic renal failure. The onset of puberty is delayed by decreased pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in chronic renal failure patients, indicating a deregulation at the hypothalamopituitary level of the gonadotropic axis. However, after renal transplantation, a regular pattern of LH pulses is established. |