Central Precocious Puberty as a Complication of Therapy with Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and an Aromatase Inhibitor for Refractory Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

Glucocorticoids are typically prescribed for the treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of childhood. In selected patients with refractory focal segmental glomuerulosclerosis (FSGS), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) can be used to induce remission and decrease the progression of the disease. We report a 6 8/12-year-old girl with recurrent proteinuria, resistant to standard immunotherapy. She underwent related renal transplant but again developed proteinuria and was started on ACTH. She subsequently developed peripheral precocious puberty (PPP), presumably from peripheral aromatization of adrenal androgens. She was started on an aromatase inhibitor, and her ACTH dose was slowly decreased. She then developed central precocious puberty (CPP). We hypothesize that treatment of her peripheral precocious puberty with an aromatase inhibitor may have triggered central precocious puberty.