Efficacy of combined treatment with growth hormone and gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue in children with poor prognosis of adult height.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to study the role of combination therapy of growth hormone and Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) or idiopathic short stature (ISS).


METHODS
Five girls with CPP (median age 9.1 y, pubertal stage 2-3) (3 of them previously treated with GnRH analogue (GnRHa) for 16.2 +/- 0.3 months) and 8 girls with ISS (median age 11.4 y, pubertal stage 2-3) (previously treated with GH for 10.95 +/- 1.42 months), were treated with recombinant human GH (0.33 mg/kg/week) and GnRHa (3.75 mg/28 days) for 22 months.


RESULTS
Height of girls with CPP improved from - 1.3 to - 0.2 SDS and height for BA from - 2.1 to - 0.6 SDS (P = 0.042). Predicted adult height (PAH) improved from - 3.1 to - 0.6 SDS (P = 0.042). In girls with ISS only PAH improved from - 3.0 to - 1.5 SDS (P = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
Combined treatment improves height and PAH in CPP. Height in ISS is also improved however not significantly.
Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Makarios Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. meropitoumba@cytanet.com.cy
M
M
Toumba
I
I
Bacopoulou
S C
SC
Savva
N
N
Skordis
D000465:Algorithms; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone