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Reduction of bone density: An effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue treatment in central precocious puberty

  • Endocrinology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Gonadal steroids drive the significant bone mineral increase that occurs at puberty. Oestrogen deprivation in women results in bone loss. We investigated bone mineralization by single photon absorptiometry in girls with central precocious puberty (n=13, age 3.8–8.5 years) before and during 1 year of treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a=longacting D-Trp6-GnRH, 60 μg i.m. every 28 days). Before GnRH-a therapy, bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly higher in patients than in ten control girls matched for chronological age (patients 0.575±0.097 g/cm2, controls 0.433±0.049 g/cm2,P<0.001). Patient BMD was not significantly different from that of ten control girls matched according to patient bone age (0.550±0.046 g/cm2,P=NS). During GnRH-a treatment, pituitary-gonadal axis was suppressed and patient BMD significantly decreased (6 months: −6.0%,P<0.002 vs baseline; 12 months: −8.0%,P<0.001 vs baseline). We conclade that in girls with precocious puberty the activation of gonadal steroid secretion induces an increase in bone mineralization and that oestrogen deprivation by GnRH-a treatment caused a significant decrease in BMD.

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Abbreviations

BMD:

bone mineral density

BMI:

body mass index

CPP:

central precocious puberty

GnRH-a:

gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Unit, Chair of Preventive Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 67, I-56125, Pisa, Italy

    G. Saggese, S. Bertelloni, G. I. Baroncelli, R. Battini & G. Franchi

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  1. G. Saggese
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  2. S. Bertelloni
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  3. G. I. Baroncelli
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  4. R. Battini
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  5. G. Franchi
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Saggese, G., Bertelloni, S., Baroncelli, G.I. et al. Reduction of bone density: An effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue treatment in central precocious puberty. Eur J Pediatr 152, 717–720 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01953983

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01953983

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