Improvement of final adult height in girls with central precocious puberty treated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue

Objective To investigate the long-term outcome in the girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) treated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). Methods Thirty girls with idiopathic CPP treated with GnRHa for (23.0±7.6)months achieved their near final heights after (3.2±0.8)years follow-up. Comparisons were made among their final adult height (FAH), target height (THt), predicted adult height(PAH)at the onset and the end of GnRHa treatment (PAH 1 and PAH 2) . Factors affecting the height gain were also analysed. Results PAH increased after the GnRHa treatment [ PAH 2(155.2±5.7)cm vs PAH 1 (150.7±5.4)cm,P0.01]. There was no significant difference among PAH 2, THt [(155.5±4.0)cm] and FAH [(155.7±4.9)cm]. Age (CA 1), predicted adult height SDS for target height (PAH 1SDS THt) at the onset of GnRHa treatment, and duration of GnRHa treatment were the 3 variables being able to influence independently the effective height gain from the start of treatment to the achievement of adult height. The better height gain by GnRHa treatment is relatedto the younger age, the shorter PAHcompared to the target height at the initial treatment and the longer duration of GnRHa therapy. Conclusions GnRHa improves the final height of CPP girls, with the effect being influenced by the age, the initial deficit in height potential at the onset of treatment and the duration of GnRHa application.