title: The effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist treatment over 3 years on bone mineral density and body composition in girls with central precocious puberty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Puberty is a period characterized by growth spurt and rapid change in body composition. The effect of GnRH agonist therapy for central precocious puberty on bone mineral density is unclear. We demonstrated changes in bone mineral density in subjects with central precocious puberty, who were treated with GnRH agonist for more than 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The changes in bone mineral density and body compositions were tested with analysis of variance with repeated measures to identify statistical significance over the treatment period.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-five Korean girls with central precocious puberty were treated with GnRH agonist, and among these subjects, 39 patients were treated for more than 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed on the subjects at the initial evaluation and once yearly thereafter while on the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bone mineral density parameters for chronological age tended to decrease near the mean for the treatment period; however, they increased significantly for bone age excluding bone mineral apparent density. An increment of the BMI was not significant for the chronological age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-year treatment with GnRH agonist in central precocious puberty patients did not impair bone maturation. GnRH agonist could be effectively commenced in girls with precocious puberty from an early age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ajou University Hospital, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hae S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Il T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jung S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jin S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone