Premature Thelarche and the PURA Syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 

Premature thelarche is a self-limited condition characterized by Tanner stage II–III breast development in girls younger than 8 years of age with no evidence of advancing puberty. Evaluation concentrates on excluding central or peripheral causes of precocious puberty.

CASE: 

A girl aged 2 years 4 months with profound hypotonia and delayed developmental milestones presented with Tanner II breast development, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels, suppressed luteinizing hormone level, normal growth and skeletal development, and prepubertal uterine length and ovarian volume. Monitoring until 8 years of age revealed no pubertal progression. Whole exome sequencing at 8 years revealed an autosomal-dominant mutation in the purine-rich element-binding protein A (PURA) gene. Previous patients with PURA syndrome have had pituitary dysfunction and precocious puberty.

CONCLUSION: 

Purine-rich element-binding protein A syndrome can be associated with premature thelarche.

In Brief

Premature thelarche is a self-limited condition that must be differentiated from and monitored for progression to central precocious puberty.