Original ResearchTreatment of Central Precocious Puberty Using Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonists

- Precocious puberty treatment reported in 2 cohorts of children.
- FDA approval of treatment was based on only 6 months of data.
- Our observations are over 2 years, comparing once-monthly and 3-monthly GnRHa effects.
- Suppression of puberty with 3-monthly GnRHa yields similar effects as once monthly.

Precocious puberty is treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). In this study we describe our clinical experience with pubertal suppression from GnRHa, using monthly and 3-monthly formulations. A retrospective chart review for the period between 2006 and 2010 was done for 64 patients who were undergoing treatment for central precocious puberty. Two treatment cohorts were observed for 2+ years. Pubertal suppression was inadequate for 14 of 38 children (37%) on GnRHa given monthly and for 2 of 26 (8%) children given GnRHa every 3 months. Based on our findings of adequate pubertal suppression, decreased frequency of injections, and fewer facility visits, we consider GnRHa 3-monthly injection to be first-line therapy.