Growth and Pubertal Development during and after Treatment with a Slow-Release Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist in Central Precocious Puberty

Abstract

The auxological data of 25 patients (21 girls, 4 boys) with central precocious puberty (CPP), treated for 4 years with a slow-release gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist [Decapeptyl-controlled release (D-CR) 3.75] every 4 weeks intramuscularly, and of 6 patients (3 girls, 3 boys), treated for 5 years, are presented. After 3 years of D-CR a stabilization of height velocity (HV) at about 4 cm/year was observed. Bone maturation (ratio of change in bone age to change in chronological age; ΔBA/ΔCA) slowed down to a mean ΔBA/ΔCA ratio of 0.5 ± 0.2 (mean ± SD) measured over 48 months. As a result, predicted adult height (PAH) improved from 156.3 ± 7.4 to 162.2 ± 6.8 cm in girls (p