ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with GnRH agonists on final height(FH) and the influencing factors on height gains. METHODS: Twenty-five girls and five boys with true precocious puberty, who were treated with GnRH agonists for more than one year and had attained final height, were evaluated retrospectively. We analysed auxological parameters at diagnosis, at the end of treatment, and at the attainment of final height, and calculated height gains. RESULTS: FH SDS was significantly higher than predicted adult height(PAH) SDS at diagnosis (-0.91+/-1.32, vs. -1.80+/-1.39, P<0.01). A group of initial PAH below the range of target height(TH) attained significantly more height gains and increments of height SDS than those in a group of initial PAH within the range of TH(8.37+/-2.56 cm vs. 1.38+/-6.42 cm, P<0.01; 1.30+/-0.74 vs. 0.35+/-1.28, P<0.05). Height gains were positively correlated with bone age advancement at diagnosis and height velocity during the first year of treatment(r=0.528, P<0.01 and r=0.454, P<0.05), while height gains were negatively correlated with initial PAH and bone age increments during treatment(r=-0.485, P< 0.05 and r=-0.613, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that GnRH agonist therapy for children with true precocious puberty improves the final height, and height gains are positively affected by bone age advancement at diagnosis and growth velocity during the first year of therapy, and negatively affected by PAH at diagnosis and degree of bone maturation during therapy.