Assessment of subcutaneous fat using ultrasonography in the Ullrich–Turner syndrome

Abstract

Subcutaneous fat was measured using an ultrasonic method (SF-US) in girls with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) and in height and weight-matched controls. The method is not influenced by changes in cutaneous compressibility, which is frequently abnormal in UTS especially at a younger age. SF-US in the arms was significantly less in UTS patients (ulnar SF-US: P < 0.05; triceps SF-US: P < 0.005) than in the control girls. Results in suprailiac SF-US measurement was also similar (P < 0.05). Though the mean SF-US in the subscapular region was less in UTS patients than the control girls, there was no statistically significant difference. It is demonstrated that subcutaneous fat in UTS patients is less in their arms than in girls without UTS and that trunkal fatness is not increased but rather decreased in the UTS. The ratio of lean body mass to weight seems higher in UTS patients than in girls with similar weight and height.

Reference values for body proportions and body composition in adult women with Ullrich-Turner syndrome

“…No such difference could be found. Taking the previously mentioned studies on subcutaneous fat content and the body composition data from this study into account [Ohzeki et al, 1989;Hanaki et al, 1992;Ohzeki et al, 1993], one might propose an alternative explanation: Females with UTS might simply be in need of some ''stretching out'' to overcome the excess kilos due to the growth retardation, which primarily spurns retardation in the longitudinal axis, while they are not growth retarded along the horizontal axis, and thus are not simply overweight. Another explanation for the abnormal body composition data could simply be inapplicability of the bioelectrical impedance prediction equations used.…”

“…From skinfold thickness and ultrasonography measurements in obese girls with UTS, a reduced amount of subcutaneous fat on the limbs and a normal amount of subcutaneous fat on the trunk has been observed when compared with a similar control group [Hanaki et al, 1992;Ohzeki et al, 1993].…”

“…One previous study found overweight UTS girls to have smaller skinfold thickness compared to equally overweight girls. The authors suggested this difference to be due either to hidden fat on the trunk, or to increased lean body mass [Hanaki et al, 1992]; and a subsequent study showed significantly decreased amounts of subcutaneous fat on the arms of UTS females compared to height and weight matched controls, plus decreased amounts of subcutaneous fat on the trunk, using ultrasonography as a means of estimating subcutaneous fat [Ohzeki et al, 1993]. A previous case report of a girl with the UTS and anorexia nervosa with remarkable weight loss, but no abnormal weight for height or other abnormal body mass indices, might indicate that females with UTS are simply compressed along the longitudinal axis and henceforth not to be considered overweight [Ohzeki et al, 1989].…”

Turner's syndrome in dermatology

“…48 Studies suggest that "fatness" is a result of an increased lean body mass to weight ratio in TS, possibly a consequence of reduced skeletal mass and occult lymphedema. 48,49 Although autoimmune antibodies and autoimmune disorders are more prevalent in TS, antibodies in most cases are not associated with overt disease. 26 Decreased IgG and IgM, and in some cases, increased IgA production have also been reported in TS.…”

Avaliação da resistência insulínica e do perfil lipídico na síndrome de turner

“…Nas 10 pacientes com idade >20 anos, a estatura final (145,3 ± 8cm) foi semelhante às encontradas em vários estudos europeus, como o de Ranke e Grauer de 1994 (30), com 661 pacientes com ST (144,3 ± 6,7cm), ou mesmo do subgrupo escandinavo com 119 pacientes Vários estudos têm demonstrado uma maior incidência de obesidade na ST, tanto na infância, como principalmente na vida adulta (8,10,11,(32)(33)(34). Observou-se apenas uma paciente com z do IMC acima de +2 DP; no entanto, oito tinham IMC acima de 25Kg/m 2 (sendo 2 acima de 30), e 19 com aumento da relação entre cintura e quadril, podendo significar um excesso de gordura localizado na região abdominal, o que também já havia sido mostrado por Gravholt e Naeraa (1997) (11).…”