Effect of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Treatment in Boys with Central Precocious Puberty: Final Height Results

Abstract

Objective: The small number of boys present in most studies on final height (FH) after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment for central precocious puberty (CPP) offers difficulties in the evaluation of the effects of treatment on FH in males. Method: We therefore combined FH data from The Netherlands, Italy and France to study the effect of GnRHa treatment in a large group of 26 boys with CPP. Results: The mean chronological age at the start of treatment was 7.6 ± 2.0 (SD) years, bone age (BA) was 11.0 ± 2.1 years. All boys were treated with depot formulations of the GnRHa triptorelin with established gonadal suppression for a mean treatment period of 4.7 ± 2.1 years. FH was 172.9 ± 6.6 cm. FH standard deviation score (SDS) was –0.66 ± 1.22, not significantly different from the target height SDS of –0.23 ± 0.75. FH-SDS was significantly lower in the subgroup of 12 patients with organic CPP compared to patients with idiopathic CPP (–1.34 ± 1.06 vs. –0.08 ± 1.06, respectively; p = 0.01), but no difference in height gain was observed. The mean estimated height gain, defined as the difference between predicted and actual adult height was 6.2 ± 8.7 cm using the average tables of Bayley and Pinneau, and 0.3 ± 8.6 cm using the BA advance adjusted tables. Regional differences in height gain were observed between the different countries, reflecting different local practices. Conclusion: We conclude that GnRHa treatment in boys results in a FH close to target height.