Age of menarche in girls with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract

Malnutrition, delayed growth and puberty are commonly observed in children suffering from cystic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the age of menarche in girls with CF using status quo analysis. The relationship between types of CFTR mutations and onset of the first menstruation was also evaluated. Material was based on somatic data gathered from medical history records of 47 girls with cystic fibrosis, aged 11-18 years. All girls were patients of the Mother and Child Institute in Warsaw (Poland). The age of menarche in the girls in the study group was 14.65+/-1.21 years. In comparison with the healthy child population, girls with cystic fibrosis experienced menarche with 2 years' delay. Menstruating girls were found to be statistically older and taller than their non-menstruating consorts. Regarding body mass and BMI, a marked tendency towards higher parameter values was noted in the menstruating group, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. A significant relationship between onset of menarche and type of CFTR mutation was found. Girls with cystic fibrosis enter puberty later than their peers, in spite of intensive medical care. The issue of growth and puberty in children with CF requires further detailed investigation under clinical and auxological aspects.