Changes in body mass index in boys with central precocious puberty over 2 years of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy

PURPOSE: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is a safe and effective therapy used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). Although most studies have reported no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) in girls during and after GnRHa therapy, few studies have investigated changes in BMI in boys with CPP. This study evaluated the effects of GnRHa therapy on BMI in boys with CPP. METHODS: This study included 75 boys with CPP at Ajou University Hospital between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016, who treated with leuprorelin acetate or triptorelin acetate every 4 weeks for at least 2 years. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to BMI: normal weight, overweight, and obese. We analyzed the BMI standard deviation score (SDS) in each group before therapy and after 1 year and 2 years of therapy. RESULTS: Of the 75 boys, 37 were in the normal weight group, 21 were in the overweight group, and 17 were in the obese group. Magnetic resonance imaging that was performed before treatment showed abnormal findings in 9 boys. The mean BMI SDS for all participants at initiation was 1.0±0.8, and that in the normal weight, overweight, and obese groups was 0.3±0.4, 1.3±0.1, and 1.9±0.3, respectively. There were no significant differences in BMI SDS in any group after 1 or 2 years of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The BMI SDS in boys with CPP did not significantly change over 2 years of GnRHa therapy.