Research Article: Long-term clinical outcomes in females with precocious puberty treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues
Abstract:
To evaluate long-term anthropometric, metabolic, reproductive, and bone mineral density (BMD) outcomes in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) treated with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone analogues (GnRHa).
In this retrospective cohort with cross-sectional follow-up assessment, 82 of 265 eligible females (30.9%) with central precocious puberty or central hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activation who had received GnRHa participated in long-term evaluation. Anthropometric outcomes, insulin sensitivity indices (HOMA-IR and QUICKI), hormonal profile, BMD, and reproductive outcomes including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were assessed. Analyses used available cases for each outcome; missing values were not imputed.
The mean age at final evaluation was 17.61 ± 4.3 years, and mean GnRHa treatment duration was 3.14 ± 1.9 years. Mean height at final follow-up was 159.85 ± 6.5 cm; the mean difference from baseline predicted adult height was 1.98 cm (95% CI, -0.37 to 4.34; P = 0.097). The distribution of BMI categories did not change significantly from baseline to final follow-up. Mean HOMA-IR and QUICKI were 3.76 ± 1.82 and 0.319 ± 0.025, respectively; among adults, 14/28 (50.0%) met each prespecified adult-derived threshold for reduced insulin sensitivity. PCOS was identified in 15/67 participants (22.4%). Mean lumbar and femoral BMD Z-scores were -0.25 ± 1.23 and -0.55 ± 1.03, respectively.
Among participants who completed long-term follow-up, attained height was comparable at the group level with predicted adult and mid-parental height, and mean BMD Z-scores were within age- and sex-referenced ranges. PCOS and PCOS-related features were observed, while insulin sensitivity indices were associated with adiposity. Because only 30.9% of eligible patients participated and there was no untreated comparison group, these findings describe the evaluated cohort and should not be interpreted as causal effects of GnRHa treatment.
Introduction:
Central precocious puberty (CPP) is one of the common disorders in pediatric endocrinology, caused by premature activation of hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis. It is characterized by the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys ( 1 ). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) constitute the mainstay treatment for CPP. Therapy aims to suppress premature activation of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis, thereby preserving predicted…
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