Long-term GnRH agonist treatment for female central precocious puberty does not impair reproductive function.
Depot gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (GnRHa) therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with central precocious puberty (CPP). It is still unclear whether long-term exposure to GnRHa is associated with impaired reproductive function in adulthood. The present study was performed on 46 women, former CPP patients, 12.5+/-3.7 years after the discontinuation of treatment with depot GnRHa. In a structured interview, we assessed general health status, clinical signs possibly associated with hyperandrogenism, menstrual cycle, gynaecological diseases and reproductive function. It appears that long-term treatment with depot GnRHa is safe and does not impair reproductive function. The risk of former CPP patients to develop hirsutism and/or polycystic ovary syndrome does not seem to be increased compared to the normal population but this issue needs to be addressed in further long-term follow-up studies.
Heger
Sabine
S
Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Kiel, Germany. sabine.heger@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Müller
Marina
M
Ranke
Michael
M
Schwarz
Hans-Peter
HP
Waldhauser
Franz
F
Partsch
Carl-Joachim
CJ
Sippell
Wolfgang G
WG
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000209:etiology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000819:agonists* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000175:diagnosis; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000728:Androgens; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone