ESPE Abstracts

Background: Treatment of precocious puberty with GnRH analogues is well established. But there are concerns about weight gain in patients on this treatment. There have been conflicting reports about the effect of GnRH analogues on weight.

Objective and hypotheses: To assess the change in BMI in children treated with GnRH analogues within a UK Endocrine Service and to analyse the patient/parent experience of the treatment.

Method: A retrospective study along with a questionnaire survey of patient/parent experience of the treatment was conducted. Data were collected from patients with precocious puberty on GnRH analogues for at least two years. Baseline BMI was compared with BMI at 2-years of treatment. An anonymised questionnaire survey assessed patient’s experience of treatment, associated side effects and overall satisfaction of the services.

Results: Ten percent of children were overweight (BMI–SDS between 2 and 3) prior to treatment, while 21% were overweight at 2-years of treatment (n=19). BMI–SDS showed an increasing trend (0.78–0.91) but was not statistically significant (P=0.379). 92% of patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service. 70% of patients did not report any side effects (n=14). 30% of patients perceived weight gain which resulted in low self-esteem.

Conclusion: Our study showed an increasing trend in the BMI of children treated with GnRH analogues for precocious/early puberty though this was not statistically significant. This is in agreement with the recent joint consensus statement (2009) by the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and Lawson Wilkins Paediatric Endocrine Society (LWES) on GnRH analogues. Along with the joint consensus statement, this study on a UK regional patient population will enable us to give more reassurance to our patients.