Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue and growth hormone therapy in precocious and premature puberty following cranial irradiation for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Ten girls with early puberty secondary to cranial irradiation as a part of the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were treated with either gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) and human growth hormone (GH) (8 girls) or with GnRHa alone (2 girls). After 4 years of treatment, height SDS for bone age was improved in the group who received combined treatment (from -0.97 to +0.07, p < 0.001), in contrast to the 2 patients who received GnRHa alone in whom height standard deviation scores for bone age decreased (from -1.10 to -1.33). Sitting height in all patients was relatively shorter than leg length, and there was no significant alteration during the 4 years of treatment.