Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment on final adult height in boys with idiopathic central precocious puberty

PURPOSE: There are few reports on the therapeutic effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in boys with central precocious puberty, and studies reported in Korea are very rare. We aimed to assess the significance of clinical factors and the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment on final adult height in boys diagnosed with central precocious puberty. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 18 boys treated for idiopathic central precocious puberty between 2007 and 2018 at Chosun University Hospital. Gestational age, birth weight, and parental height were assessed at the initial visit. Chronological age, bone age, bone age/chronological age ratio, height and height standard deviation scores, predicted adult height, body mass index, and hormone levels were assessed during the treatment period. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, the chronological age was 9.9±0.6 years, the bone age was 11.6±1.0 years, and the bone age/chronological age ratio was 1.20±0.1. The bone age/chronological age ratio decreased significantly to 1.12±0.1 at the end of treatment (P<0.05). The luteinizing hormone/follicular stimulating hormone ratios were 3.4±1.2, 0.6±0.4, and 0.6±1.0 at the start of treatment, after 1 year of treatment, and at the end of treatment, respectively. After gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment, the final adult height reached 172.0±4.8 cm compared to the target height range of 171.0±4.0 cm. CONCLUSION: In boys with central precocious puberty, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment improved growth potential.