Quantification of urinary gonadotropins by specific assays may improve the evaluation of sex‐specific hormonal changes in early infancy
Authors' conclusion
The assessment of total U-LH-ir and U-FSH-ir, and their respective ratio constitutes a noninvasive, practical and scalable tool to investigate sex-specific changes during early infancy, with the ratio being significantly higher in boys than girls. Only highly specific LH assays detecting beta-subunit and its core fragment in addition to intact LH should be used for determining U-LH-ir in the neonatal period to avoid potential cross-reactivity with hCG of placental origin.
Study context
- Population
- Infants aged 0–6 months (morning urine samples); additionally a 5-day-old male neonate sampled bi-hourly for 24 h
- Participants
- 31 infants
- Comparison
- Regular luteinizing hormone (LH) assay vs total LH assays; girls vs boys
- Outcome
- Feasibility of gonadotropin assays for total and intact U-LH-ir and U-FSH-ir
- Follow-up
- Early infancy
Methodological detailsurine assay comparison, 24-h bi-hourly sampling in one neonate
- Urine assay comparison
- 24-h bi-hourly sampling in one neonate
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
U-LH-ir by regular vs total (specific) LH assays · neonates up to 21 days of age
- Regular LH assay vs Total (specific) LH assays: P = 0.004
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| U-FSH-ir, girls vs boys · first month and next 5 monthsGirls vs Boys · higher in girls; first month | P = 0.02 |
| U-FSH-ir, girls vs boys · first month and next 5 monthsGirls vs Boys · higher in girls; next 5 months | P < 0.001 |
| Total U-LH-ir, boys vs girls · until 6 months of ageHigher in boys | P < 0.001 |
| Total U-LH-ir/U-FSH-ir ratio, boys vs girls · first half-yearSignificantly higher in boys | P < 0.001 |
Original publication
Quantification of urinary gonadotropins by specific assays may improve the evaluation of sex‐specific hormonal changes in early infancy. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 25 April 2024. doi:10.
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