The Effect of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue on Final Adult Height in Children with Idiopathic Short Stature

Abstract

Objective: To assess final adult height (FAH) in children with short stature treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). Methods: All patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) with normally timed puberty and a Tanner stage between 2 and 3, who achieved their FAH between 2005 and 2015, were included in this clinical historical cohort study. Height gain, FAH, and mid-parental height of 28 children with ISS who received GnRHa treatment for 1.8 ± 1.0 years to delay their puberty were compared to 31 untreated children. Results: The FAHs of the treated and the untreated girls were 151.3 ± 5.1 and 146.8 ± 3.8 cm (p = 0.01), respectively. The FAHs of the treated and the untreated boys were 156.4 ± 4.7 and 152.3 ± 5.7 cm (p = 0.111), respectively. The height gain in the treated and the untreated girls was 1.6 ± 7.8 and –3.6 ± 5.7 cm (p = 0.036), respectively. Height gain in the treated and the untreated boys was –5.1 ± 13.6 and –11.5 ± 8.4 cm (p = 0.171), respectively. Conclusion: GnRHa therapy has a modest effect in improving FAH in adolescent females with ISS but not in boys.