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Horm Metab Res 1992; 24(3): 122-126
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1003273
Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Growth, Bone Maturation and Height Prediction after Three Years of Therapy with the Slow Release GnRH-Agonist Decapeptyl-Depot in Children with Central Precocious Puberty

R. Hümmelink1 , W. Oostdijk2 , C. J. Partsch1 , R. J. H. Odink3 , S. L. S. Drop4 , W. G. Sippell1
  • 1German-Dutch CPP Study Group, Endocrine Unit, Dept. of Paediatrics, Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • 2German-Dutch CPP Study Group, Endocrine Unit, Dept. of Paediatrics, Universität Leiden, Leiden
  • 3German-Dutch CPP Study Group, Endocrine Unit, Dept. of Paediatrics, Universität Amsterdam, Amsterdam
  • 4German-Dutch CPP Study Group, Endocrine Unit, Dept. of Paediatrics, Universität Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Publication History

1990

1991

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

More than 100 patients with central precocious puberty are participating in this international multicenter study using monthly i. m. injections of the slow-release GnRH agonist Decapeptyl-Depot. In 15 patients, Decapeptyl-Depot treatment could be discontinued after 2 years of therapy. Gonadal suppression was promptly reversible in all of them, as shown by prepubertal low gonadotrophin- and sex steroid levels. Of the remaining 90 patients, 40 have been treated for more than 3 years, including 33 girls and 7 boys.

Plasma levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and testosterone dropped to the prepubertal range after one month of Decapeptyl-Depot and remained there for the whole period of therapy. At start of therapy, mean chronologic age of these 40 children was 6.6±1.4 (SD) years, mean bone age 10.2±1.9 years. Mean predicted adult height increased in the boys from 173.6±13.8 (SD) cm at start of therapy to 184.6±17.0 cm after 3 years. Predicted adult height increased in girls from 158.0±12.2 to 161.0±7.5 cm.

Undue side effects were not seen, long term tolerance was good. It is concluded that Decapeptyl-Depot injected i. m. every 4 weeks suppresses the pituitary-gonadal axis in children with central precocious puberty without clinical or biochemical escapes, and leads to an increase in predicted adult height by more than 3 cm in all boys and in 53 % of the girls after three years of treatment.

Key words

GnRH-Agonist Therapy - Precocious Puberty - Growth Bone Maturation and Height Prediction