The Effect of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analog Treatment on Body Mass Index and Height in Female Patients with Central Precocious Puberty

Abstract

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) are widely used in the treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP). There is concern that GnRHa treatment, whose positive effects on the adult height are known, may cause weight gain and body mass index (BMI) increase. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the GnRHa treatment on BMI and height in female patients with CPP. Materials and Methods: Ninety-two patients diagnosed with idiopathic CPP and 22 patients diagnosed with organic CPP, who received GnRHa treatment were included in the study. Data taken on the treatment start date, 6 th month, 1 st and 2 nd year for height, weight, BMI and bone age were obtained retrospectively from the file records. Results: BMI standard deviation score (SDS) increased during the treatment period in all the patients. In the second year of GnRHa treatment, BMI SDS was higher in the organic CPP, compared to the idiopathic CPP (0.66±0.84 and 1.35±0.72, p=0.007). In both groups, at the beginning of GnRHa treatment, the BMI SDS increase was higher in those patients with normal weight compared to those who were overweight/ obese. In both groups, the prevalence of obesity was higher than the reference population at the beginning of treatment. An increase was determined in the height SDS and predicted adult height in both groups according to bone age. Conclusion: In patients with CPP, the prevalence of obesity was higher in the first application compared to the reference population. In CPP, BMI SDS increased with GnRHa treatment. The weight of the patients at the beginning of the treatment affected the weight and BMI change with GnRHa treatment. Those patients with organic CPP were more prone to weight gain and BMI increase.