Background The use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) for pubertal suppression has been associated with increased body mass index (BMI) in female subjects with central precocious puberty (CPP), although results have been so far conflicting. This study examined the effects of GnRHa therapy in both genders and in subjects treated for CPP, early puberty or short stature. Methods This was a longitudinal retrospective study of subjects followed at outpatient pediatric endocrinology clinics of an academic medical center from 2005 to 2014 receiving GnRHa therapy. Results At 12 months, subjects on depot GnRHa had a statistically significant increase in BMI standard deviation score (SDS) from baseline (0.13 ± 0.35, p < 0.02). Subjects with short stature (0.17 ± 0.34, p < 0.02) but not early or precocious puberty, and subjects with normal baseline BMI (0.18 ± 0.38, p < 0.02) had significant increases in BMI SDS; no significance was noted at 24 months. Male subjects did not have a significant increase in BMI SDS, whereas female subjects did (0.11 ± 0.36, p < 0.01). Conclusions Subjects with short stature, normal BMI at baseline and female sex had significant increases in BMI SDS at 12 months. This is the first study to show an increase in BMI SDS in children treated with GnRHa for short stature, and is one of the few studies to assess BMI changes in males.
Keywords: GnRH agonist; body mass index; central precocious puberty; early puberty; short stature.