Long term outcome of gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue therapy in Sri Lankan children with central precocious puberty

Introduction: Central precocious puberty (CPP) needs treatment to minimise the psychosocial impact and optimize the auxological outcome.

Objective: To analyse the growth pattern and outcome of gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) therapy in a cohort of children with CPP

Method: Heights were serially recorded, skeletal age monitored and height velocities calculated in children with CPP prospectively followed up from presentation to cessation of therapy with GnRHa. The response to treatment was assessed as the height standard deviation scores (SDS), ratio of chronological age to bone age and reduction of height velocity with treatment and the significance was determined using the paired ‘t’ test and ANOVA. Their heights when last seen were compared with their predicted mature heights and target heights which were calculated based on the bone age prior to treatment and the parents’ heights respectively.

Results: There were 9 patients (8 girls) with a mean age of 56.4 (19.1) and 124.2 (15.2) months at onset and completion of treatment respectively. There was a significant reduction in the height SDS, bone age acceleration and height velocity with treatment. The heights at final assessment were acceptable for the national average in the majority.

Conclusion: There was a significant reduction in the height SDS, bone age acceleration and height velocity in the cohort of children with CPP treated with a GnRHa.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health 2015; 44(2): 82-87