DESLORELIN-INDUCED DELAY OF PUBERTY INCREASES ADULT HEIGHT OF ADOLESCENTS WITH SHORT STATURE: RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL.▴ 592

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa) treatment improves adult height in children with LHRH-dependent precocious puberty. To determine whether LHRHa can enhance adult height in patients with short stature and normally timed puberty, we enrolled 50 children in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of placebo or LHRHa (deslorelin 4 μg/kg/d sq) for 4 yr (actual mean ± SD LHRHa duration 3.6 ± 0.7 yr; for placebo, 2.4 ± 1.5 yr). 37 patients (7 males in each group) have achieved near-final adult height (bone age ≥ 16y, growth velocity < 1.5 cm/yr). Of the remaining 13 patients, 2 are lost to followup and 11 are still growing.Table

Table 1

We conclude that a 3.6-year period of deslorelin-induced pubertal delay increases adult height by 6 cm (range 1.1-12.7 cm) in adolescents with a normally timed puberty and extreme short stature.