Current pharmacotherapy of central precocious puberty by GnRH analogs: certainties and uncertainties

Abstract

Introduction: GnRH analogs represent the drug of choice for medical treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP). They provided prompt and reversible suppression of reproductive axis and several reports have shown that adult height is preserved in treated children.

Areas covered: This review updates GnRH analog treatment in CPP by a search of the literature published on the topic since 1980.

Expert opinion: Monthly GnRH analogs are currently considered the ‘gold standard' for the medical treatment of CPP, since a lot of experience is accumulated on their use in children. Differences in long-term outcome (in terms of adult height) are reported and they may be due to differences in selection criteria, treatment monitoring, criteria to stop of therapy, different biological activity of the various drugs and different genetic background of treated patients; altogether, these items remain poorly evaluated. Psychological indications for treatment and long-term psychological outcome of treated children should be better addressed. Comparative trials among the various GnRH analogs are very scarce. New very long-acting GnRH analogs (quarterly or yearly formulations) may improve compliance with therapy, but longer follow-up studies are needed. Medical treatment of CPP should be close to pediatric endocrinologists or tertiary pediatric endocrinology centers with documented experience in this field.

Keywords::

• adult height
• central precocious puberty
• GnRH analogs
• goserelin
• histrelin
• leuprolide
• long-term follow-up
• reproductive function
• triptorelin

Notes

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.