Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT570

Aim: To evaluate the effect of triptorelin on the final height of girls with precocious or early puberty, compared to the untreated group, and to investigate factors that contribute to the maximum effectiveness of treatment in terms of final height.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from medical records and organized follow-up phone calls to all girls evaluated in our Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic for precocious or early puberty during the last two decades. One hundred and seventy-eight girls (85 with precocious and 93 with early puberty), of whom 85 received treatment with triptorelin and 93 did not, were included in the final analysis. The patients’ anthropometric characteristics, bone age and midparental height, as recorded at their visits, were collected. Final heights, measured and documented by health professionals, and the exact date of the first menstruation (menarche) were collected after telephone communication. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of various parameters on the response to triptorelin treatment.

Results: The difference in mean standard deviation (ΔSDS) of final and midparental height did not show significant difference between treated and untreated girls (Δ Height SDS (Final – Midparental): -0.20 ± 0.89 vs -0.28 ± 0.83, P = 0.243). The results were similar when we compared the early (-0.22 ± 0.71, vs. -0.17 ± 0.83, P = 0.778) and precocious puberty (-0,19 ± 1,04, vs -0,39 ± 0,83, P = 0,315) subgroups separately. As excepted, menarche occurred earlier in the precocious puberty group compared with the early puberty group (10.68 ± 1.22 vs 11.12 ± 0.90 years, P = 0.005) and in the untreated compared with the treated group (10.31 ± 0.91 vs. 11.57 ± 0.06 years, P <0.001 for early puberty, and 11.53 ± 0.90 vs. 9.86 ± 0.86 years, P <0.001 for precocious puberty). Predictors of final height were height at diagnosis (positively correlated), midparental height, and bone age at diagnosis (negatively correlated).

Conclusions: There was no significant difference in final height between treated and untreated girls, and triptorelin was effective in delaying the onset of menarche. Factors contributing to a better final height in the treated group were higher height at baseline, lower midparental height, and younger bone age.