Lack of Effect of GnRH Agonists on Final Height in Girls with Advanced Puberty: A Randomized Long-Term Pilot Study

GnRH agonists improve final height in girls with “true” precocious puberty. To test if a comparable effect can be obtained in older girls, we performed a long-term controlled study in 30 caucasian girls whose puberty started between 8.4 and 10 yr (9.4 ± 0.1 yr), a variant of normal called “advanced” puberty. At entry into trial, these girls had clinical, biological, and sonographic manifestations of puberty and a bone age greater than 10.9 yr. They were randomized 2:1 to receive 3.75 mg triptorelin im every 4 weeks for 2 yr (n = 20, group I) or no treatment (n = 10, group II). Mean height at inclusion was 135.2 ± 4.3 cm (+0.6 sds) in group I, 136.1 ± 4.2 cm (+0.8 sds ) in group II, with target height 157.6 ± 4.3 cm (group I) and 157.8 ± 4.7 cm (group II), and predicted height (Bayley-Pinneau) 154.1 ± 3.9 cm and 155.2 ± 3.7 cm. Although GnRH agonists transiently delayed sexual maturation as well as bone age and growth rate, they had no clear-cut long-standing effect, and final height was comparable in treated (157.6 ± 4.0 cm) and untreated girls (156.1 ± 5.3 cm) (NS).