ReviewJournal of molecular endocrinology2026
A literature overview of age- and Tanner stage-specific reference intervals for sex hormones for children aged 0-18 years.
Review in Journal of molecular endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of age- and Tanner stage-specific reference intervals (RIs) for testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in children and adolescents and to highlight the importance of age- and Tanner stage-specific RIs for clinical practice. A literature review was performed to identify studies reporting RIs on testosterone and estradiol quantified using GC-MS/MS or LC-MS/MS and LH, FSH, and SHBG quantified using immunoassays in healthy individuals aged 0-18 years, categorized by age and/or Tanner stage. Sample sizes were evaluated according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline CLSI EP28-A3c, with ≥120 samples per group being acceptable, 39-119 samples being poor, and ≤38 samples being unacceptable. Analytical methods and statistical approaches were carefully documented. Fourteen studies were included for testosterone, seven for estradiol, thirteen for LH and FSH, and nine for SHBG. The results revealed considerable variability in the availability and quality of RIs, with many studies lacking adequate sample size or appropriate partitioning. Testosterone, estradiol, LH, and FSH RIs demonstrated significant changes during mini-puberty and puberty, with clear sex-specific patterns. SHBG RIs fluctuated throughout childhood and adolescence. This literature review demonstrates that RIs for HPG axis hormones show significant changes during mini-puberty and puberty, although data using appropriate analytical methods, using sufficient sample sizes, and reporting on age categories, Tanner stage, and menstrual cycle phase are scarce. Robust age- and Tanner stage-specific RIs are essential to improve diagnostic accuracy and individualized care in children and adolescents.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.