Hormonal changes during GnRH analogue therapy in children with central precocious puberty

Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist monotherapy and combination therapy with growth hormone on final adult height in girls with central precocious puberty

This study aimed to compare clinical parameters, including final adult height (FAH), in girls with central precocious puberty treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) with and without growth hormone (GH). This retrospective study reviewed data of 210 girls with precocious puberty who had reached FAH in a long-term trial of GnRHa treatment. The subjects were divided into the GnRHa treatment group (n = 188), and the combined GnRHa + GH treatment group (n = 22). Chronological age, bone age, height, height standard deviation score, predicted adult height (PAH), FAH, Tanner stage, and hormone levels were assessed during the treatment period. At the start of treatment, PAH was 156.35 ± 6.34 cm in the GnRHa monotherapy group and 150.41 ± 5.32 cm in the GnRHa + GH group (P < 0.001). At the end of treatment, PAH was 166.25 ± 5.26 cm in the GnRHa group and 164.07 ± 4.99 cm in the combined GnRHa + GH treatment group, which had increased compared to the start of treatment. The FAH in the GnRHa group and GnRHa + GH combination group were 161.07 ± 4.78 cm and 159.63 ± 3.8 6 cm, respectively, without significant difference. In addition, the height gain (FAH-PAH) was significantly higher in the GnRHa + GH group than the GnRHa group (9.22 ± 6.03 cm vs. 4.72 ± 5.01 cm, P < 0.001). In girls with central precocious puberty, the height gain in the FAH compared to PAH at the start of treatment was significantly higher with the GnRHa + GH combination treatment.

Transgender Girls Grow Tall: Adult Height Is Unaffected by GnRH Analogue and Estradiol Treatment

CONTEXT

Transgender adolescents can receive gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH) and gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), but little is known about effects on growth and adult height. This is of interest since height differs between sexes and some transgender girls wish to limit their growth.

OBJECTIVE

This work aims to investigate the effects of GnRHa and GAHT on growth, and the efficacy of growth-reductive treatment.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study took place at a specialized tertiary gender clinic. A total of 161 transgender girls were treated with GnRHa and estradiol at a regular dose (2 mg) or high growth-reductive doses of estradiol (6 mg) or ethinyl estradiol (EE, 100-200 µg). Main outcome measures included growth, adult height, and the difference from predicted adult height (PAH) and target height.

RESULTS

Growth velocity and bone maturation decreased during GnRHa, but increased during GAHT. Adult height after regular-dose treatment was 180.4 ± 5.6 cm, which was 1.5 cm below PAH at the start GnRHa (95% CI, 0.2 cm to 2.7 cm), and close to target height (-1.1 cm; 95% CI, -2.5 cm to 0.3 cm). Compared to regular-dose treatment, high-dose estradiol and EE reduced adult height by 0.9 cm (95% CI, -0.9 cm to 2.8 cm) and 3.0 cm (95% CI, 0.2 cm to 5.8 cm), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Growth decelerated during GnRHa and accelerated during GAHT. After regular-dose treatment, adult height was slightly lower than predicted at start of GnRHa, likely due to systematic overestimation of PAH as described in boys from the general population, but not significantly different from target height. High-dose EE resulted in greater reduction of adult height than high-dose estradiol, but this needs to be weighed against possible adverse effects.

Efficacy of Leuprorelin 3-Month Depot (11.25 mg) Compared to 1-Month Depot (3.75 mg) for Central Precocious Puberty in Chinese Girls: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

A 3-month depot of leuprorelin acetate (LA) was introduced in China in July 2020. However, the clinical experience is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of a LA 11.25 mg 3-month depot with that of a 3.75 mg 1-month depot in suppressing pubertal development for the treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP). Subjects and Methods. A prospective study, including 78 girls with CPP treated with LA, was conducted. 31 patients were treated with a LA 3-month depot, and 47 were treated with a LA 1-month depot. Participants were interviewed at baseline and 6 months. Anthropometric, metabolic, and reproductive data were assessed at each interview. Bone age, serum endocrine hormones, maximum diameter of uterus and volume of ovary of each patient were evaluated. A pharmacoeconomic evaluation was also conducted.

RESULTS

Treatment with a 3-month depot was similar to treatment with a 1-month depot in terms of baseline characteristics. After 6 months of treatment, a suppressed level of luteinizing hormone (LH) (LH < 2.5 IU/L) was found in 100% and 95% of the 11.25 mg and 3.75 mg groups, respectively. LH decreased from 2.11 ± 1.83 and 2.82 ± 2.31 at baseline (P=0.172) to 0.37 ± 0.39 and 0.44 ± 0.76 (P=0.758) in the 3-month and 1-month groups, respectively. Follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels, bone age/chronological age (BA/CA), height velocity, maximum diameter of uterus and volume of ovary did not show any distinction between the two groups after 6 months of treatment, but both were significantly ameliorated compared with the baseline. The loss of working time of parents and study time of patients and the numbers of visits, injections and laboratory examinations obviously decreased in the 3-month depots.

CONCLUSION

An LA 3-month depot was equally effective and safe as a 1-month depot for hormonal suppression and bone maturation inhibition, providing clinical experience in China. The 11.25 mg depot of LA is a safe, efficient, and economical treatment method for the advanced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue and recombinant human growth hormone treatment for idiopathic central precocious puberty in girls

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness and safety of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) in combination with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP).

METHODS

Clinical data of 80 girls diagnosed with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) between January 2017 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment strategy involved GnRHa alone (group A: n=34) and GnRHa+rhGH (group B: n=46). Children's heights (Ht), weights (Wt) and sex hormone levels were measured every 3 months after treatment and bone age (BA) every six months. Heights, growth velocity (GV), predicted adult height (PAH), weights, body mass index (BMI), sex hormone levels and bone age were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Children in group B showed greater height gain at the 12th, 24th and 30th months after treatment (p<0.05) than those in group A, had faster growth rates in the first and second year following treatment (p<0.05) and better PAH (p<0.05). No statistical differences in weight or BMI were found between the two groups before treatment or at any time after treatment (p>0.05). Levels of LH and FSH were lower in both groups after treatment with no statistical differences between groups (p>0.05). The gap between bone age and chronological age gradually decreased in both groups and no abnormal progression of bone age or other adverse side effects occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of GnRHa with rhGH produced better height gains than GnRHa alone for patients with CPP. The gonadal axis was suppressed and progression of bone age delayed with good safety and efficacy.

Efficacy of Triptorelin 3-Month Depot Compared to 1-Month Depot for the Treatment of Korean Girls with Central Precocious Puberty in Single Tertiary Center

BACKGROUND

Triptorelin depot is largely used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP) in children, and a 3-month depot has been introduced. However, data about the 3-month gonadotropin-releasing hormone use for treatment of CPP in Korean girls are not available. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of a triptorelin 11.25 mg 3-month depot with that of a 3.75 mg 1-month depot in suppressing pubertal development for the treatment of CPP.

METHODS

A retrospective study, including 106 girls with CPP treated with triptorelin, was conducted. Fifty patients were treated with a triptorelin 3-month depot, and 56 were treated with a triptorelin 1-month depot. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol levels were analysed every 6 months after the visit. The height and bone age of each patient was evaluated at the beginning of treatment, after 6 months, and one year after therapy.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics of the girls treated with a 3-month depot were similar to those of the girls treated with a 1-month depot. A suppressed levels of LH to the triptorelin injection (serum LH < 2.5 IU/L) at 6 months was seen in 90.0% and 98.2% of the girls treated with the 3-month and 1-month depots, respectively (P = 0.160). After 1 year of treatment, a suppressed levels of LH was seen in 93.5% and 100% of the girls treated with the 3-month and 1-month depots, respectively (P = 0.226). Height velocity showed no significant difference between the two groups. Degree of bone age advancement decreased from 1.22 ± 0.07 and 1.22 ± 0.08 years at baseline (P = 0.914) to 1.16 ± 0.07 and 1.17 ± 0.08 in the girls treated with the 3-month and 1-month depots after 1 year, respectively (P = 0.481).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the efficacy of long-acting triptorelin 3-month was comparable to 1-month depot regarding hormonal suppression and inhibition of bone maturation. The triptorelin 11.25 mg 3-month depot is an effective treatment for girls with CPP.

Novel model to study the physiological effects of temporary or prolonged sex steroid deficiency in male mice

Sex steroids are critical for skeletal development and maturation during puberty as well as for skeletal maintenance during adult life. However, the exact time during puberty when sex steroids have the highest impact as well as the ability of bone to recover from transient sex steroid deficiency is unclear. Surgical castration is a common technique to study sex steroid effects in rodents, but it is irreversible, invasive, and associated with metabolic and behavioral alterations. Here, we used a low dose (LD) or a high dose (HD) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist to either temporarily or persistently suppress sex steroid action in male mice, respectively. The LD group, a model for delayed puberty, did not show changes in linear growth or body composition, but displayed reduced trabecular bone volume during puberty, which fully caught up at adult age. In contrast, the HD group, representing complete pubertal suppression, showed a phenotype reminiscent of that observed in surgically castrated rodents. Indeed, HD animals exhibited severely impaired cortical and trabecular bone acquisition, decreased body weight and lean mass, and increased fat mass. In conclusion, we developed a rodent model of chemical castration that can be used as an alternative to surgical castration. Moreover, the transient nature of the intervention enables to study the effects of delayed puberty and reversibility of sex steroid deficiency.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We developed a rodent model of chemical castration, which can be used as an alternative to surgical castration. Moreover, the transient nature of the intervention enables to study the effects of delayed puberty and reversibility of sex steroid deficiency.

Comparing adult height gain and menarcheal age between girls with central precocious puberty treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist alone and those treated with combined growth hormone therapy

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) therapy with or without growth hormone (GH) therapy for girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP).

METHODS

The medical records of 166 girls diagnosed with CPP from 2002 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. All included patients were treated with GnRHa for ≥36 months. Changes in height standard deviation score (SDS) for bone age, chronological age (CA), and predicted adult height (PAH) were assessed for the first three years of treatment. The final height gain SDS was calculated as the difference between the initial PAH SDS and adult height (AH) SDS; these were then compared between the GnRHa group (group A, n=135) and the combined GnRHa/GH group (group B, n=31).

RESULTS

The initial mean CA was 7.89 years. The mean menarcheal age was 13.12 years (group A, 13.1±0.99; group B, 13.18±0.58 years; P=0.755). PAH SDS at the start of GnRHa treatment and AH SDS were significantly lower in group B than in group A (PAH SDS: -2.20±0.83 vs. -3.19±0.84, P&lt;0.001; AH SDS: 0.18±084 vs. -0.30±0.66, P=0.021). The increase in PAH SDS was higher in group B than in group A for the first three years of GnRHa treatment (1.66±0.66 vs. 2.35±0.93, P&lt;0.001). The height gain SDS was significantly higher in group B than in group A (2.5±0.75 vs. 2.93±1.02, P=0.048). Younger age, higher PAH at the start of treatment, and a greater increase in PAH SDS during the first year of GnRHa treatment positively affected AH.

CONCLUSION

The combined GH group had more additional height gain than the GnRHa-alone group.

The different effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy on body mass index and growth between normal-weight and overweight girls with central precocious puberty

PURPOSE

The effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment on body mass index (BMI) are controversial in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). We therefore evaluated auxological parameters during GnRHa therapy in patients with CPP, specifically focusing on changes in BMI.

METHODS

Seventy-seven girls with idiopathic CPP who underwent GnRHa therapy were retrospectively recruited. We investigated BMI changes during the treatment period after stratifying them according to baseline BMI status as follows: normal (BMI percentile of <85th) and overweight groups (BMI percentile of ≥85th).

RESULTS

The incidence of overweight/obesity (40.3%/23.4%) was very high in the girls with CPP. In the overall study population, no significant BMI change was observed during the GnRHa treatment period. However, when stratified according to baseline BMI status, the normal-weight group showed a significant increase in BMI-standard deviation score (SDS), whereas the overweight group showed no change in BMI-SDS. Baseline BMI-SDS was an independent predictor of changes in BMI during the GnRHa treatment period. Changes in weight-SDS were similar, but changes in height-SDS were significantly greater in the overweight group than in the normal-weight group, which explains the observed difference in BMI-SDS.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that the difference in the pattern of BMI changes among our CPP patients suggests that delayed puberty induced by GnRHa treatment may have different effects on linear growth according to baseline body composition. This study underscores the importance of individualized lifestyle intervention in CPP children.

The Efficacy of GnRHa Alone or in Combination with rhGH for the Treatment of Chinese Children with Central Precocious Puberty

The addition of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) to GnRH agonist (GnRHa) to treat central precocious puberty (CPP) is controversial. We systemically reviewed and evaluated the efficacy and safety of the rhGH and GnRHa adjunctive therapy in Chinese children with CPP and assessed the influence of age and therapy duration on the efficacy of the combined treatment. A total of 464 patients were included from 14 studies. Compared with baseline, administration of GnRHa plus rhGH led to a significant increase in height, predicted adult height (PAH) and height standard deviation for bone age (HtSDS-BA), corresponding to a weighted mean difference (WMD) (95%CI) of 9.06 cm (6.41, 11.70), 6.5 cm (4.47, 8.52), and 0.86 (0.58, 1.14) respectively. Subgroup analysis showed the combined therapy had increased efficacy in subjects with initial treatment age younger than 10 years old or with treatment lasting over 12 months. Compared with GnRHa alone treatment, the combined treatment led to a significant increase in height, PAH and HtSDS-BA, corresponding to a WMD (95% CI) of 3.56 cm (2.54, 4.57), 3.76 cm (3.19, 4.34) and 0.56 (0.43, 0.69). The combined treatment exhibited no safety concerns. Our findings may aid clinicians in making treatment decisions for children with CPP.

Efficacy of subcutaneous administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on idiopathic central precocious puberty

In order to assess the feasibility of subcutaneous administration of Triptorelin with 6-week intervals for the suppression of pituitary-gonadal axis and changes of clinical signs in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP), 46 girls with ICPP were treated with GnRHa. Triptorelin (Decapeptyl, 3.75 mg) was administered subcutaneously (SC) at 6-weeks intervals or intramuscularly (IM) at 4-weeks intervals randomly for more than 12 months consecutively. During GnRHa therapy, clinical parameters and laboratory data, including height, weight, pubertal stage, bone age, uterine volume and ovarian size, serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2), were monitored and analyzed. It was found that both treatment regimes led to regression of precocious puberty and reversal of secondary sexual characteristics. Breast developments regressed. Uterine volume was decreased after treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference. Mean ovarian volume did not change significantly during treatment. The height velocity was decreased significantly from 6.3+/-1.4 cm/year to 5.8+/-1.2 cm/year in group SC and 6.7+/-1.3 cm/year to 5.4+/-1.0 cm/year in group IM, respectively. The rate of bone maturation was reduced significantly during treatment. The ratio of deltaBA/deltaCA was 1.2+/-0.2 or 1.3+/-0.3 at the onset of therapy and decreased significantly after the treatment to 0.7+/-0.2 or 0.9+/-0.1, respectively. The predicted adult height was increased significantly and progressively during therapy. The levels of serum LH, FSH and E2 returned to the prepubertal condition. No significant side effects of therapy were noted. The most common side effect during SC treatment was that a non-irritating, 1 cm in diameter mass was palpated at the site of subcutaneous injection in the abdominal wall of patients, which disappeared after 6-12 weeks. Two girls had minimal withdrawal vaginal bleeding episodes after the first injection. It was concluded that both IM and SC triptorelin administrations were clinically effective. They induce profound suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis while stabilizing height velocity, slowing bone maturation and increasing predicted adult height. These results suggest that subcutaneous injection of triptorelin in 6-weeks intervals at a dosage of 3.75 mg be a safe and acceptable regimen for ICPP

Serum levels of IGF-I and BRCA penetrance: a case control study in breast cancer families

High serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are associated with an increased risk of sporadic breast cancer (BC). The aim of the present work is to evaluate the association between IGF-I and hereditary BC risk, using a case-control approach. The work represents an "ad interim" cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing study with a prospective design whose aim is to recruit a cohort of women belonging to high genetic risk families to test potential modulators of penetrance and prognosis. The odd of exposure to high serum IGF-I levels among women with a previous diagnosis of BC ("cases") was compared with the odd among unaffected "controls". The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression, controlling for confounders. We analysed 308 women (209 cases and 99 controls) at high genetic risk of BC. The adjusted OR of BC for the upper tertile of serum IGF-I versus the lowest one was 3.5 (95%CI 1.4-8.8). Excluding from the analysis 64 women under current Tamoxifen or GnRH analogues treatment, the adjusted OR of BC became 3.7 (95%CI 1.4-9.9). The association became stronger restricting the analysis to the 161 women (97 cases and 64 controls) with a proven BRCA mutation. If confirmed by a prospective approach, the association between IGF-I and familial BC will open further options for reducing BC risk in susceptible women.

Precocious puberty in a girl with floating-harbor syndrome

Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by short stature, delayed bone age, mild to moderate mental retardation, speech problems, and peculiar craniofacial features. In these patients pubertal development has been reported to be normal. In this paper, we describe a girl with FHS who developed precocious puberty. FHS diagnosis was made at 2 years 5 months on the basis of peculiar clinical features. At 7 years 7 months, the girl began pubertal development; her height was 112.5 cm (-2.42 SDS) and pubertal staging was B2 PH2 AH1. LHRH test underlined LH and FSH peak values of 11.7 mIU/ml and 6.2 mIU/ml, respectively. Plasma levels of 17beta-estradiol were normal (8.5 pg/ml). Ophthalmological and neurological examinations, including nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, were normal. Treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue was begun. At 10 years 1 month, because of reduced height velocity, her growth hormone secretion was evaluated with diagnosis of neurosecretory dysfunction; hGH therapy was begun. The patient showed a good response to hGH treatment, reaching a normal adult height (156.1 cm; -1.20 SDS). This report suggests that, in patients with FHS, precocious puberty should be taken into consideration; in these patients, a careful endocrinological followup for the possible presence of growth and pubertal disorders is needed.

Prolactin secretion before, during, and after chronic gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatments in children

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of long-term administration of GnRH agonists (GnRHa) on PRL secretion in children affected by central precocious puberty (CPP) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

DESIGN

Prospective analysis of blood sampling before, during, and after GnRHa treatments.

SETTING

Pediatric endocrine center.

PATIENT(S)

One hundred nineteen and 93 children with a diagnosis of CPP and GHD, respectively.

INTERVENTION(S)

Monthly depot injections of GnRHa drugs (leuprorelin acetate 3.75 mg [LA] and triptorelin 3.75 mg [TR]) administered to CPP and GHD patients for 40 and 24 months, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Serum PRL levels at baseline and after 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 40 months of treatment with GnRHa were compared between CPP and GHD groups. PRL levels at 6 and 12 months after GnRHa withdrawal were also examined.

RESULT(S)

Although serum PRL levels tended to be higher in TR- than in LA-treated patients, no significant difference in circulating PRL in basal condition and during GnRHa treatment was detected between the CPP and GHD groups. However, five children (3.8%) developed hyperprolactinemia during TR treatment.

CONCLUSION(S)

Although there are no general concerns about GnRHa treatment safety, careful PRL monitoring is required in GnRHa-treated children.

Growth hormone therapy

Growth hormone (GH) therapy has revolutionized treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Improved height outcome with final height in the target height range has been achieved in these children. Identification of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a deadly prion mediated disorder, in recipients of pituitary GH accelerated the transition from pituitary derived GH to recombinant GH. Once daily subcutaneous administration of the freeze-dried preparation at evening is the recommended mode of GH therapy. Studies have led to use of higher dose of GH for improving height outcome (0.33 mg/kg/week or 0.14 IU/kg/day) albeit at a significantly high cost. Growth velocity increases from 3-4 cm/year before therapy to 10-12 cm/year during the first two years of therapy and is maintained at 7-8 cm/year after a period of two years. Close follow-up with regular clinical and laboratory monitoring is essential for achieving a desirable height outcome. A theoretical unlimited supply has led to wide spread use of GH in a variety of disorders other than GHD. Initially started in children with Turner syndrome, GH has now been used in chronic renal failure, idiopathic short stature and intrauterine growth restriction besides a wide array of newly emerging indications.