Case report: development of precocious puberty in two children treated with clonidine for aggressive behavior.

ABSTRACT Clinical symptoms of precocious pubertal development were observed in two girls with mild mental retardation during treatment of aggressive behavior with clonidine. Both 7-year-old children developed early physical signs of puberty, whose progression ceased when clonidine was discontinued. Prior to treatment with clonidine, both patients had received several different psychoactive medications without any signs of onset of puberty. Biochemical confirmation of the diagnosis and evaluation of concomitant medical conditions were unobtainable due to individual circumstances. Based on the appearance of clinical symptoms of precocious puberty, it is hypothesized that clonidine may have stimulated the production or release of anterior pituitary hormones. If physical signs of precocious puberty appear during treatment with clonidine, clinicians might consider the possibility of a link to the medication as well as to pursue possible medical causes of precocious puberty.