Long-Term Suppression of Pituitary-Gonadal Function with Three-Month Depot of Leuprorelin Acetate in a Girl with Central Precocious Puberty

Abstract

Objective: The efficacy of a 3-month depot preparation of the GnRH agonist leuprorelin acetate in central precocious puberty was studied. Methods: Treatment with a 3-month depot of leuprorelin acetate was performed subcutaneously in a 7.3-year-old girl with central precocious puberty. Results: During treatment the hormonal suppression was constant and complete as demonstrated by suppressed GnRH stimulation tests and prepubertal estradiol plasma levels. The size and volume of the uterus and ovaries returned to the normal range. The rate of bone maturation was significantly reduced with a ratio ΔBA/ΔCA of 0.58 for 3 treatment years. Thus, the effects of treatment were comparable to those reported for treatment with 1-month depot of GnRH agonists. Conclusion: Three-month depots have the advantage of a prolonged injection interval which is more convenient for the patients and reduces costs by necessitating fewer visits to the physician and being approximately 10% cheaper than the 1-month depot. We suggest that comparative and randomized studies be performed to make 3-month depots of GnRH agonists available for routine use in children with central precocious puberty.