Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue Therapy for Central Precocious Puberty: Long-term Effect on Somatic Growth, Bone Maturation, and Predicted Height

The long-acting analogue of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, D-Trp 6 -Pro 9 -NEt-LHRH (LHRH a ), is effective in the short-term treatment of central precocious puberty. We report the results of two to four years of LHRH a therapy in 27 children with this disorder. Secondary sex characteristics regressed in most patients. Sex steroid levels and basal and LHRH-stimulated gonadotropin levels remained suppressed compared with pretreatment values. Linear growth rates decreased from 11.0±0.8 (SEM) cm/yr before treatment to 5.7 ±0.4 cm/yr at two years of treatment and 3.7±0.7 cm/yr at four years of treatment. Predicted heights by the Bayley-Pinneau method increased from 156.4 ±2.0 cm before treatment to 162.3 ±2.3 cm at two years and 163.4 ±2.4 cm at three years. Five patients treated for four years had a mean increase in predicted height of 5.5 cm. To date no adverse effects have been observed. However, the ultimate safety of this analogue is not known. We conclude that LHRH a appears to be an effective long-term therapy for central precocious puberty. ( JAMA 1986;255:2613-2616)