title: Prolactin secretion before, during, and after chronic gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatments in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of long-term administration of GnRH agonists (GnRHa) on PRL secretion in children affected by central precocious puberty (CPP) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective analysis of blood sampling before, during, and after GnRHa treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric endocrine center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred nineteen and 93 children with a diagnosis of CPP and GHD, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monthly depot injections of GnRHa drugs (leuprorelin acetate 3.75 mg [LA] and triptorelin 3.75 mg [TR]) administered to CPP and GHD patients for 40 and 24 months, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum PRL levels at baseline and after 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 40 months of treatment with GnRHa were compared between CPP and GHD groups. PRL levels at 6 and 12 months after GnRHa withdrawal were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although serum PRL levels tended to be higher in TR- than in LA-treated patients, no significant difference in circulating PRL in basal condition and during GnRHa treatment was detected between the CPP and GHD groups. However, five children (3.8%) developed hyperprolactinemia during TR treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are no general concerns about GnRHa treatment safety, careful PRL monitoring is required in GnRHa-treated children.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrine Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. massart@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massart
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parrino
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Placidi
authors.forename: Ginevra
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massai
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggese
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000819:agonists*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin