Treatment of central precocious puberty

Abstract

Long-acting analogs of GnRH (GnRHas) have been the gold-standard treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) worldwide and have an enviable track record of safety and efficacy. Recent years have witnessed much growth in the availability of longer-acting and sustained-release forms of GnRHas. Although all available agents appear promising, limited long-term follow-up and/or comparative data are available. In this review, important issues pertaining to the treatment of children with CPP are discussed. In addition to an assessment of the newer extended-release GnRHa formulations, a delineation of factors essential in determining which children should be treated is offered. Outstanding uncertainties in clinical management are highlighted and areas in need of future research identified. Literature searches for this review were performed in PubMed and OVID, with a focus on Englishlanguage publications using the terms "central precocious puberty" and "treatment.".