Prolactin secretion before, during, and after chronic gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatments in children.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of long-term administration of GnRH agonists (GnRHa) on PRL secretion in children affected by central precocious puberty (CPP) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

DESIGN

Prospective analysis of blood sampling before, during, and after GnRHa treatments.

SETTING

Pediatric endocrine center.

PATIENT(S): One hundred nineteen and 93 children with a diagnosis of CPP and GHD, respectively.

INTERVENTION(S): Monthly depot injections of GnRHa drugs (leuprorelin acetate 3.75 mg [LA] and triptorelin 3.75 mg [TR]) administered to CPP and GHD patients for 40 and 24 months, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum PRL levels at baseline and after 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 40 months of treatment with GnRHa were compared between CPP and GHD groups. PRL levels at 6 and 12 months after GnRHa withdrawal were also examined.

RESULT(S): Although serum PRL levels tended to be higher in TR- than in LA-treated patients, no significant difference in circulating PRL in basal condition and during GnRHa treatment was detected between the CPP and GHD groups. However, five children (3.8%) developed hyperprolactinemia during TR treatment.

CONCLUSION(S): Although there are no general concerns about GnRHa treatment safety, careful PRL monitoring is required in GnRHa-treated children.