Randomised trial of LHRH analogue treatment on final height in girls with onset of puberty aged 7.5-8.5 years.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effectiveness of luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues in improving final height in girls affected by early puberty.


METHODS
Forty six consecutive girls with onset of puberty aged 7.5-8.5 years randomly divided into two groups: one treated with 3.75 mg triptorelin intramuscularly every four weeks (group 1); and the other with no treatment (group 2).


RESULTS
Mean (SD) chronological age at onset of menarche was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (11.9 (1.0) v 10.8 (0.7) years). However, mean (SD) height at menarche (152.7 (7.2) v 152.5 (5.7) cm) and mean (SD) growth after menarche (4.9 (3.0) v 5.4 (2.2) cm) were similar in both groups. The mean (SD) final height was similar in the two groups (group 1, 158.1 (6.2) cm; group 2, 158. 6 (6.0) cm) and not significantly different from target height. Fourteen of 20 patients in group 1 and 12 of 18 patients in group 2 showed final height equal to or higher than target height. Final heights of girls with poor initial height prognosis were significantly lower than those of girls with good prognosis, but in patients with the same initial height prognosis, both groups showed final heights similar and not significantly different from their target heights.


CONCLUSIONS
LHRH analogue has no apparent effect on final height in subjects with onset of puberty between 7.5 and 8.5 years.
Cassio
A
A
Department of Paediatrics, Bologna University, Via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Cacciari
E
E
Balsamo
A
A
Bal
M
M
Tassinari
D
D
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008186:Luteolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008186:Luteolytic Agents; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate