THU204 Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Levels According To Pubertal State And Body Weight In Children

Abstract

Abstract Disclosure: H. Nam: Grant Recipient; Self; Supported by a Korea University Grant. E. Kang: None. Y. Rhie: None. K. Lee: None. Objectives: Childhood obesity may lead to early puberty in girls, however, it remains unclear whether early thelarche in overweight girls is related to central activation of the gonadotropin releasing hormone-gonadotropin axis. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is essential for governing angiogenesis in adipose tissue. We assessed serum VEGF-A level according to pubertal state and weight in girls. Patients and Methods: Total 165 girls were classified as prepuberty (n=40), puberty with peak LH <5.0 IU/L (n=60), and puberty with peak LH ≥5.0 IU/L (n=65). Serum VEGF-A, sex hormone, gonadotropin level and bone age were analyzed according to pubertal state and overweight including obesity. We measured serum level of VEGF-A using ELISA kit. Results: Their chronological age were similar (7.8±1.2, 7.9±0.8, and 8.0±0.9 years, p=0.410 in prepuberty, puberty with peak LH <5.0 IU/L, puberty with peak LH ≥5.0 IU/L, respectively). The mean VEGF-A level was higher in puberty girls (399.3±206.2, 633.5±473.0, 605.7±392.4 pg/mL, P=0.009) and was significantly correlated with Tanner stage (r=0.224, p=0.004), BMI SDS (r=0.191, p=0.014), and weight SDS (r=0.202, p=0.009). When sub-analysis with the degree of obesity, VEGF-A level (802.2±556.0 pg/mL) was highest in overweight puberty girls with peak LH <5 IU/L and was significantly correlated with peak LH (r=0.397, p=0.044) and peak LH/FSH (r=0.409, p=0.038). Conclusions: Our study showed higher VEGF-A levels in overweight puberty girls. Obesity-associated VEGF-A rise may involve in the progression of precocious puberty. Further studies related to pathophysiological mechanism are needed. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023