Central precocious puberty: An overview of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome

Therapy with GnRH analogues is the treatment of choice for progressive CPP. Because the improvement of adult height involves only a few centimeters, except in patients who have a very early and robust onset of CPP, therapy generally should not be given in an effort to improve height alone. Therapy is effective in restoring a prepubertal hormonal milieu followed by cessation of pubertal growth and development. Pubertal development, for social and psychologic reasons, can be delayed until a more appropriate age. Progressive CPP can be identified by a clear progression of pubertal changes and an acceleration of growth rates and skeletal maturity, with pubertal hormone levels and responses to GnRH stimulation. A timely institution of therapy would be within a few months of onset once progression can be documented and before height potential is lost. With adequate timing of therapy for progressive CPP, genetically expected adult height can be achieved.