Problem Behaviors, Intelligent Quotient, And Brain Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy In Girls With Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty

Objective: To evaluate the problem behaviors and intelligent quotation (IQ) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP), and whether these are related to brain metabolic activity. Methods: Case-control study was adopted in the study. The study consisted of 42 ICPP girls and 41 healthy controls aged between 7-8 years old. All subjects were evaluated weight, height, and bone age. Brain metabolic products, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and combined creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), were obtained through Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-MRS) from the brain frontal cortex. Conners Parent Rating Scales (PSQ) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) were used to evaluate the girls' problem behaviors and IQ. Based on the above measures, we analyzed the correlation between problem behaviors, IQ and brain metabolic activity. Results: ICPP patients had significantly more advancement of bone age than the control (P=0.000). They had lower value of NAA/Cr and higher value of Cho/Cr compared to the control. But the difference was not significant (P>0.05). ICPP patients had more behavioral problems in psychosomatic problems, impulsivity-hyperactivity, and hyperactivity index (P<0.05), and also had lower IQ of Processing Speed Index than the control (P<0.05). In correlation analysis, the psychosomatic problems and hyperactivity index were correlated with NAA/Cr (P<0.05), the others were no correlation. Conclusions: ICPP girls have more advancement of reproductive system and bone age, but their brain development is immature from 1H-MRS. They have more problem behaviors and lower IQ. Psychological supports should be given to these girls.