ESPE Abstracts

Aim: This study aimed to compare the levels of appetite-regulating hormones (ghrelin, leptin, peptide-YY (PYY), neuropeptide-Y (NPY)) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) before treatment with prepubertal girls, and to evaluate changes in these hormone levels and body composition during leuprolide acetate (LA) treatment.

Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included girls with ICPP, isolated premature thelarche (IPT), and prepubertal healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, and hormone levels were measured at admission and were repeated at 6 and 12 months in the ICPP group receiving LA treatment.

Results: Age, body mass index (BMI), fat ratio were similar in the ICPP (n=20), IPT (n=28) and control (n=21) groups (P=0.135, P=0.738 and P=0.707, respectively). There was no difference between the groups in any of the appetite-regulating hormone levels. A significant correlation of leptin was found with BMI SD and fat ratio in the whole study group (P<0.001 r= 0.606, P<0.001 r= 0.640, respectively). In the follow-up of the ICPP group, the thelarche stage regressed in all cases with treatment, and LH was suppressed in the GnRHa test. Although BMI SDs did not change significantly in the first 6 months (P=0.407), the fat ratios showed a significant increase. While no significant change was found in ghrelin levels during the treatment, a significant increase in leptin levels and a significant decrease in PYY and NPY levels were detected between 0-6 months.

Conclusion: The similarity in hormone levels between groups suggests that these hormones are associated with adipose tissue, independently of puberty. However, changes in hormone levels during LA treatment suggest that these hormones play important roles in the onset and regulation of puberty. Possible mechanisms will be discussed.