Journal of Turkish Clinical Biochemistry

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Is it True Precocious Puberty or Macro LH? Detection via PEG Precipitation in an 8-Year-Old Boy

1 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Türkiye
2 Niğde Bor Public Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory, Niğde, Türkiye

Abstract

Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels may occasionally be elevated in individuals without any clinical manifestations. One possible explanation for this finding is the presence of macro LH, an immunoglobulin-bound form of LH that forms immune complexes and is cleared slowly from circulation. An eight-year-old boy with no clinical signs of puberty was found to have elevated LH levels for his age. To investigate the possibility of macro LH, serum samples were treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to precipitate high-molecular-weight complexes. Following PEG precipitation, a marked decrease in LH concentration was observed, confirming the presence of macro LH. The detection of macro hormones such as macro LH is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments. This case emphasizes the importance of interpreting laboratory findings in the context of the patient’s clinical presentation.

Citation

Akcin, Makbule, Ece Onur, Cevval Ulman, Yeşim Güvenç Demirağcı, Elif Fırat, Aybike Ecmel Cinkara, Fethi Aktaş, et al. 2026. “Is It True Precocious Puberty or Macro LH? Detection via PEG Precipitation in an 8-Year-Old Boy”. Journal of Turkish Clinical Biochemistry 24 (1):12-14. https://doi.org/10.65717/jtcb.2026.26008.

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