Body mass index and body composition in adolescents treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue triptorelin depot for central precocious puberty: data at near final height.

Background/aim: In children with central precocious puberty (CPP), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue treatment has been associated with an increase in body mass index (BMI). We evaluated BMI and body composition in adolescents treated with GnRH analogue at their near final height to assess the long-term effects of therapy on these parameters.

Patients And Methods: We studied 20 patients (14.8 +/- 1.6 years; 17 females) previously treated with triptorelin depot for CPP (3.75 mg/28 days) from 8.1 +/- 0.8 to 11.5 +/- 0.8 years. 23 healthy adolescents with normal onset of puberty (14.7 +/- 2.1 years, 19 females) were the controls. BMI and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) were assessed.

Results: Patients reached their near adult height (-0.5 +/- 1.1 standard deviation score (SDS)); the girls were menstruating and the majority (15/17) had regular cycles, the boys showed normal testicular function. BMI was unchanged from the start of GnRH analogue therapy (0.4 +/- 1.0 SDS) to near adult height (0.2 +/- 1.0 SDS, p = NS vs. 0). Total fat mass (TFM) was significantly increased (16,144 +/- 8,065 g; controls 10,712.1 +/- 4,120.4 g, p < 0.02); glucose homeostasis and lipid profile corresponded to reference ranges.

Conclusions: GnRH analogue therapy did not show long-term detrimental effects on BMI, but it may increase TFM, suggesting that body composition should be monitored till adulthood.