Effects of GnRH analogue treatment on anterior pituitary hormones in children with central precocious puberty.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) treatment on anterior pituitary hormones in female children with central precocious puberty (CPP). There were 62 female children who had been diagnosed with CPP and received GnRHa (Leuprolide acetate, 3.75 mg intramuscular/subcutaneous/28 days) included in the study. All subjects were clinically evaluated prior to treatment and every 3 months during treatment with serum LH, FSH, ACTH, TSH, PRL as pituitary hormones, and the end hormones such as plasma E2, cortisol, fT3, fT4 levels were measured. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measured, and SDS was evaluated according to age and gender. Prolactin levels were higher during GnRHa treatment compared to pre-treatment values although the increase was statistically significant only at month 3. In addition, while 2 (3.2%) of the patients had hyperprolactinemia before treatment, 11 (17.7%) patients developed hyperprolactinemia at different time points during treatment. This study concluded that GnRHa treatment resulted in hyperprolactinemia and had no significant effect other pituitary hormones.