title: Precocious puberty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Precocious puberty continues to elicit great interest and concern among medical practitioners, as well as the public.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies have elucidated neural regulation of puberty by kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and other factors. Cohort studies from the North America and Europe suggest that the age of thelarche may be earlier than determined 2 decades ago, and menarche may be slightly earlier, but the causes are unclear. Long-term outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog therapy demonstrate increases in final height in the youngest treated patients, with no apparent adverse bone or reproductive consequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the appropriate threshold age of onset of central puberty remains uncertain, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog therapy is well tolerated and effective in suppressing luteinizing hormone pulses and ovarian activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: E Kirk
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Crossen
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012741:Sexual Maturation
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone