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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Endocrinol., 07 October 2025

Sec. Pediatric Endocrinology

Volume 16 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1662808

Efficacy of combined gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue and growth hormone therapy in girls with central precocious puberty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sufeng JinSufeng Jin1Yanhong SunYanhong Sun1Zhouyue ZhuZhouyue Zhu2Haitao Yu*Haitao Yu3*
  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
  • 2Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, China
  • 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls is characterized by premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, often leading to early epiphyseal closure and compromised adult height. While gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) are the standard therapy to suppress puberty and preserve height potential, the benefit of adding growth hormone (GH) to improve height outcomes remains unclear. This work aims to evaluate the efficacy of combined GnRHa and GH therapy compared to GnRHa monotherapy in improving growth outcomes in girls with CPP.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted up to May 2025. Eligible studies comparing GnRHa + GH combination therapy to GnRHa monotherapy in girls with CPP were included. Primary outcomes included final height and final height minus target height (FH–TH). Secondary outcomes included predicted adult height (PAH), height gain, height change during treatment, growth velocity, and bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA). Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models based on heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were conducted by study design.

Results: Nine studies were included. Combination therapy significantly improved FH–TH (WMD = 1.01 cm, 95% CI: 0.28 to 1.73; P = 0.006), PAH (WMD = 4.27 cm, 95% CI: 3.47 to 5.08; P < 0.0001), height gain (WMD = 3.45 cm, 95% CI: 1.73 to 5.17; P < 0.0001), height change during treatment (WMD = 3.31 cm, 95% CI: 1.76 to 4.86; P < 0.0001), and growth velocity (WMD = 1.40 cm/year, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.91; P < 0.0001), with no significant effect on bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA) (WMD = 0.01, 95% CI: –0.05 to 0.07; P = 0.77). No significant improvement in final height was observed (WMD = 0.14 cm, 95% CI: –1.66 to 1.94; P = 0.88).

Conclusion: GH supplementation during GnRHa treatment in girls with CPP enhances short-term growth outcomes without accelerating bone age but does not consistently improve final adult height. Combination therapy may be considered for selected patients with poor growth prognosis; however, further high-quality randomized trials are needed to refine patient selection and optimize treatment strategies.

Introduction

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a condition marked by the early activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, resulting in the premature development of secondary sexual characteristics, accelerated bone age advancement, and a potential compromise in adult height among affected girls (1, 2). The standard first-line treatment for CPP is gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) therapy, which effectively halts further pubertal progression by suppressing pituitary gonadotropin secretion (3, 4). Although GnRHa has been shown to delay skeletal maturation and stabilize growth patterns, its effect on significantly increasing final adult height remains inconsistent, particularly in girls with delayed diagnosis, older chronological age, or already advanced bone age at initiation (57).

To address these limitations, the addition of growth hormone (GH) to GnRHa has been explored as a strategy to augment height potential during treatment. GH promotes longitudinal bone growth through stimulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and can potentially offset the deceleration in growth velocity commonly observed during GnRHa-induced pubertal suppression (8, 9). Several clinical studies and observational cohorts have investigated this combination approach, suggesting variable degrees of benefit in terms of final height, predicted adult height (PAH), height gain, and growth velocity (1012). However, the interpretation of these results remains complex due to heterogeneity in baseline characteristics, treatment regimens, and outcome definitions.

Some reports indicate that combined GH and GnRHa therapy may be particularly advantageous in specific subgroups, such as those with initially low PAH or poor growth velocity after GnRHa initiation (13, 14). Conversely, other investigations have failed to demonstrate a meaningful difference between combination and monotherapy, raising concerns about overtreatment, increased cost, and potential side effects (15, 16). The existing literature also varies in methodological rigor, with randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective studies, and retrospective analyses yielding mixed conclusions.

Given the ongoing controversy and the clinical imperative to optimize growth outcomes in CPP, a systematic and quantitative synthesis of the available evidence is essential. A rigorous meta-analysis can clarify whether adjunctive GH confers additional benefit over standard GnRHa treatment, guide therapeutic decision-making in pediatric endocrinology, and inform future research priorities focused on individualized treatment strategies for children with CPP.

Methods

Search strategy

A comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted across four major electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, covering the period from database inception to May 2025. The search strategy integrated both MeSH and free-text keywords to ensure broad coverage of studies related to CPP and its treatments. Key terms and their variants included: “central precocious puberty” or “CPP”; “gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue” or “GnRHa”; “growth hormone” or “GH”; and outcome-related terms such as “final height,” “predicted adult height,” “height gain,” “growth velocity,” and “bone maturation.” The search was restricted to studies involving human subjects and published in English. Additionally, the reference lists of all eligible articles and pertinent reviews were manually screened to identify any potentially relevant studies that may have been missed during the initial database search.

Eligibility criteria

Studies were included if they met the following criteria: the population comprised girls diagnosed with CPP, based on standard clinical and biochemical markers such as early onset of secondary sexual characteristics, advanced bone age, and a pubertal gonadotropin response to GnRH stimulation. The intervention involved combination therapy with GnRHa and GH, while the comparator group received GnRHa monotherapy. Eligible studies reported at least one of the following outcomes: final height, final height minus target height (FH–TH), PAH, height gain (defined as the difference between ffinal height and baseline PAH), height change during treatment, growth velocity (cm/year), or bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA) measured as the ratio of change in bone age to chronological age. Only clinical trials and retrospective studies with a comparative design were considered. Exclusion criteria encompassed studies involving patients with organic causes of precocious puberty (e.g., brain tumors, hypothalamic hamartomas), the use of other concurrent growth-affecting treatments (e.g., aromatase inhibitors), lack of a comparison group, insufficient quantitative data to compute effect sizes (means, standard deviations, or confidence intervals), and publication types such as reviews, case reports, letters, conference abstracts without full data, or duplicate reports.

Study selection process

All records identified through the literature search were imported into EndNote X9, and duplicates were removed. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts for relevance. Full-text articles were retrieved for those that met the inclusion criteria or had unclear eligibility based on the abstract. Disagreements were resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer.

Data extraction

Two reviewers independently extracted data from each eligible study using a predesigned standardized data extraction form. Extracted information included the first author’s name, year of publication, country of origin, study design (RCT or observational study), sample size of each group, mean age at treatment initiation, duration of treatment and follow-up, and details of the intervention and comparator protocols, including drug type, dosage, and administration frequency. Outcome data collected included the mean and standard deviation (SD), or median and interquartile range (IQR), for FH–TH, PAH, height gain, height change during treatment, growth velocity, and bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA). Reported adverse events were also documented when available. For studies that presented medians and IQRs, the corresponding means and SDs were estimated using Wan’s method or Hozo’s formula, as appropriate.

Quality assessment

The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) was used to assess the quality of RCTs, examining domains such as randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, completeness of outcome data, and selective reporting. For non-randomized studies, the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied, which evaluates three domains: selection of study groups (4 points), comparability of groups (2 points), and ascertainment of outcomes (3 points). Studies scoring ≥6 points were considered moderate-to-high quality. All assessments were performed independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus.

Statistical analysis

All statistical analyses were performed using RevMan (Review Manager) version 5.4. The effect size for continuous outcomes was expressed as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic. A fixed-effects model was used when heterogeneity was low (I² ≤ 50%). In cases of substantial heterogeneity (I² > 50%), a random-effects model was applied to provide more conservative estimates. Subgroup analyses were predefined and performed to examine whether study design (clinical trials vs. retrospective studies) influenced the effect of combined therapy versus monotherapy. Publication bias was assessed visually using funnel plots.

Results

Study selection

A total of 1,698 records were identified through systematic database searching for studies comparing the efficacy of GnRHa combined with GH versus GnRHa alone in girls with CPP. No additional studies were found through other sources. After removing duplicates, 712 unique records were screened by title and abstract, resulting in the exclusion of 655 articles due to being case reports (n=32), meta-analyses or reviews (n=38), or irrelevant based on title or abstract (n=585). The remaining 57 articles were retrieved for full-text assessment, of which 48 were excluded for not being RCTs, case-control trials (CCTs), or retrospective studies (n=27), for not comparing the appropriate interventions (n=15), or for having inadequate outcome data (n=6). Ultimately, 9 studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria and were incorporated into both the qualitative synthesis and the final meta-analysis (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Flowchart illustrating the study selection process for a meta-analysis. Identified records total 1,698, with none from other sources. After removing duplicates, 712 records remain. Of these, 655 are excluded for reasons such as case reports, reviews, or irrelevant titles. Fifty-seven full-text articles are assessed, with forty-eight excluded due to factors like study type mismatch or inadequate data. Nine studies are included in both the qualitative and meta-analysis stages.

Figure 1. Flow diagram of meta-analysis.

Study characteristics

Table 1 summarizes the key characteristics of the nine studies included in this meta-analysis, encompassing a total of 9 comparative cohorts evaluating the effects of GnRHa combined with GH versus GnRHa alone in girls with CPP. The studies were conducted in Korea (n=4), Italy (n=2), China (n=2), and the Netherlands (n=1), with publication years ranging from 2000 to 2024. Study designs included retrospective studies (n=5), CCT s(n=3), and one RCT. Sample sizes varied, with the number of participants in the GnRHa+GH group ranging from 10 to 46, and in the GnRHa-only group from 10 to 188. The mean chronological age at baseline and at the end of treatment ranged approximately from 7.8 to 9.6 years and 9.2 to 11.6 years, respectively, across studies. The GnRHa dosages used were generally consistent within the range of 60–150 µg/kg or fixed doses (e.g., 3.75 mg every 28 days), while GH dosages varied from 0.25 mg/kg/week to 4 IU/m²/day. The treatment duration with GnRHa prior to GH initiation ranged from several months up to 2 years, and the combined treatment duration ranged from approximately 1.9 to 3 years. Growth-related outcomes reported across studies included final height, FH-TH, height gain, growth velocity, bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA), PAH, and overall height changes. These comprehensive data provided the foundation for the subsequent quantitative synthesis and subgroup analyses. One stated that participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. There was no risk of bias from incomplete outcome data, as all patients completed the study with no loss to follow-up. For the remaining eight studies, the NOS scores ranged from 7 to 9, indicating high methodological quality across the cohort studies and supporting the reliability of the meta-analysis findings.

Table 1
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Table 1. Characteristics of the included studies.

Meta-analysis of FH–TH

To determine whether the addition of GH to GnRHa therapy yields a greater deviation of FH–TH, a total of 7 studies were included. Between-study heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 49%), and a fixed-effects model was employed for meta-analysis. The pooled WMD demonstrated that girls treated with GnRHa + GH had a significantly greater FH–TH compared to those receiving GnRHa alone (WMD = 1.01 cm, 95% CI: 0.28 to 1.73; P = 0.006; Figure 2A), indicating an improvement in height outcome beyond genetic expectation.

Figure 2
Panel A displays a forest plot and table comparing the effectiveness of GnRHa with GH versus GnRHa in different studies. It shows mean differences, standard deviations, and confidence intervals. The plot indicates a mean difference favoring the experimental group. Panel B is a funnel plot assessing publication bias, with points scattered mostly symmetrically around the mean difference line.

Figure 2. Meta-analysis of final height minus target height (FH-TH). (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of FH-TH. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting FH-TH.

To investigate the potential influence of study design on treatment effect, subgroup analysis was conducted. In clinical trials, the benefit of combination therapy was more pronounced, with a statistically significant increase in FH–TH compared to monotherapy (WMD = 2.35 cm, 95% CI: 1.06 to 3.65; P = 0.0006; Supplementary Figure S1). Conversely, retrospective studies did not demonstrate a statistically significant advantage (WMD = 0.39 cm, 95% CI: –0.48 to 1.27; P = 0.38), suggesting that study type may moderate treatment efficacy. Funnel plot analysis revealed a symmetrical distribution of included studies, indicating minimal publication bias for this outcome (Figure 2B).

Meta-analysis of final height

A total of 8 studies evaluated the impact of GH addition on final adult height in CPP girls. Due to substantial heterogeneity among studies (I² = 81%), a random-effects model was applied. The pooled analysis indicated no significant improvement in final height for the combination therapy compared to GnRHa monotherapy (WMD = 0.14 cm, 95% CI: –1.66 to 1.94; P = 0.88; Figure 3A).

Figure 3
Panel A shows a forest plot comparing studies on the mean difference between GnRHa plus GH and GnRHa alone, with weights and confidence intervals. The overall effect shows a mean difference of 1.01. Panel B displays a funnel plot assessing publication bias, with data points scattered symmetrically.

Figure 3. Meta-analysis of final height. (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of final height. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting final height.

Subgroup analysis further clarified these findings. In clinical trials, a trend toward improved final height with GH co-treatment was observed but did not reach statistical significance (WMD = 2.14 cm, 95% CI: –0.14 to 4.43; P = 0.07). Interestingly, in retrospective studies, monotherapy with GnRHa appeared more effective, with a significantly greater final height compared to combination therapy (WMD = –1.75 cm, 95% CI: –2.65 to –0.85; P = 0.0001), raising questions about potential selection biases or unmeasured confounding in non-randomized data. Funnel plot analysis suggested no major asymmetry, supporting low risk of publication bias (Figure 3B).

Meta-analysis of height gain

Height gain, defined as the difference between initial PAH and actual final height, was assessed in 8 studies. Despite substantial heterogeneity (I² = 80%), random-effects modeling revealed that combination therapy significantly improved height gain compared to GnRHa alone (WMD = 3.45 cm, 95% CI: 1.73 to 5.17; P < 0.0001; Figure 4A).

Figure 4
Panel A shows a forest plot comparing the mean difference between GnRHa combined with GH and GnRHa alone across six studies. The combined mean difference is 3.31 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.76 to 4.86, indicating statistical significance with a Z score of 4.19 (P < 0.0001). Panel B displays a funnel plot with several circles, assessing potential publication bias.

Figure 4. Meta-analysis of height gain. (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of height gain. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting height gain.

This positive effect was consistent across study designs. In clinical trials, the pooled WMD was 3.97 cm (95% CI: 1.24 to 6.70; P = 0.004), while in retrospective studies, the effect was slightly attenuated but remained significant (WMD = 2.86 cm, 95% CI: 0.88 to 4.84; P = 0.005; Supplementary Figure S3). These findings support the role of GH in augmenting linear growth beyond genetic expectations. Symmetrical funnel plots indicated a low likelihood of publication bias for this endpoint (Figure 4B).

Meta-analysis of height change during treatment

The effect of GH on height change during the treatment period was analyzed in 6 studies. Heterogeneity was negligible (I² = 0%), permitting the use of a fixed-effects model. Pooled results demonstrated that the GnRHa + GH group exhibited significantly greater height increment during treatment than the GnRHa alone group (WMD = 3.31 cm, 95% CI: 1.76 to 4.86; P < 0.0001; Figure 5A).

Figure 5
Panel A shows a forest plot analyzing several studies comparing GnRHa plus GH versus GnRHa. It includes mean differences and confidence intervals, indicating a non-significant overall effect. Panel B is a funnel plot assessing publication bias with points distributed around a central line, suggesting no major bias.

Figure 5. Meta-analysis of height changes during treatment. (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of height changes during treatment. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting height changes during treatment.

Subgroup analyses confirmed the robustness of this effect across study designs. In clinical trials, combination therapy led to a mean height increase of 3.79 cm over monotherapy (95% CI: 0.31 to 7.28; P = 0.03), whereas retrospective studies reported a comparable gain of 3.19 cm (95% CI: 1.47 to 4.92; P = 0.0003; Supplementary Figure S4). The results indicate that GH enhances growth trajectory even within the active treatment window. Funnel plots were symmetrical, further supporting the validity of the findings (Figure 5B).

Meta-analysis of PAH

A total of 9 studies examined changes in PAH. Between-study heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 43%), and a fixed-effects model was used. The pooled data showed that GH addition led to a significant increase in PAH compared to GnRHa alone (WMD = 4.27 cm, 95% CI: 3.47 to 5.08; P < 0.0001; Figure 6A).

Figure 6
Panel A displays a forest plot comparing GnRHa combined with GH versus GnRHa alone across multiple studies, showing mean differences and confidence intervals. Panel B presents a funnel plot assessing publication bias, with points distributed symmetrically around the mean.

Figure 6. Meta-analysis of predicted adult height (PAH). (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of PAH. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting PAH.

Subgroup analysis again supported the efficacy of combination therapy. Clinical trials reported a greater increase in PAH (WMD = 5.19 cm, 95% CI: 3.66 to 6.72; P < 0.00001), while retrospective studies also confirmed a significant effect (WMD = 3.92 cm, 95% CI: 2.98 to 4.87; P < 0.00001; Supplementary Figure S5). These findings suggest that early prediction of adult height may be substantially improved with GH co-treatment. No significant publication bias was detected based on funnel plot analysis (Figure 6B).

Meta-analysis of growth velocity

Growth velocity was reported in 6 studies. With no between-study heterogeneity (I² = 0%), a fixed-effects model was employed. The analysis revealed a significant improvement in growth rate among those receiving combination therapy (WMD = 1.40 cm/year, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.91; P < 0.0001; Figure 7A).

Figure 7
Panel A displays a forest plot comparing the effects of GnRHa plus GH versus GnRHa, showing mean differences with 95% confidence intervals for various studies. The overall mean difference is 1.40, favoring the experimental group. Panel B shows a funnel plot with standard error on the y-axis and mean difference on the x-axis, indicating possible publication bias, with points scattered symmetrically.

Figure 7. Meta-analysis of growth velocity. (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of growth velocity. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting growth velocity.

Further breakdown showed that clinical trials demonstrated a stronger effect (WMD = 1.65 cm/year, 95% CI: 0.93 to 2.36; P < 0.00001), while retrospective studies also showed benefit (WMD = 1.17 cm/year, 95% CI: 0.46 to 1.88; P = 0.001; Supplementary Figure S6). These results indicate that GH supplementation meaningfully accelerates growth velocity during therapy. Funnel plot inspection did not suggest publication bias (Figure 7B).

Meta-analysis of bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA)

The impact of GH on bone maturation(ΔBA/ΔCA), measured as the ratio of bone age progression to chronological age progression, was analyzed in 7 studies. With no heterogeneity (I² = 0%), fixed-effects analysis indicated no significant difference between groups (WMD = 0.01, 95% CI: –0.05 to 0.07; P = 0.77; Figure 8A).

Figure 8
Panel A shows a forest plot displaying mean differences with 95% confidence intervals for various studies comparing experimental and control groups. The overall mean difference is 0.01. Heterogeneity is low with an I² of 0%. Panel B presents a funnel plot assessing publication bias, with data points symmetrically distributed around the mean difference of zero.

Figure 8. Meta-analysis of bone maturation. (A) Forst plot of meta-analysis of bone maturation. (B) Funnel plot of studies reporting bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA).

Subgroup analysis of both clinical trials (WMD = 0.00, 95% CI: –0.08 to 0.08; P = 0.98) and retrospective studies (WMD = 0.03, 95% CI: –0.09 to 0.14; P = 0.62; Supplementary Figure S7) consistently showed no effect. This suggests that while GH may promote linear growth, it does not accelerate skeletal maturation in the context of CPP treatment. Funnel plots were symmetric, implying low risk of bias (Figure 8B).

Discussion

This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence comparing the efficacy of combined GnRHa and GH therapy versus GnRHa monotherapy in girls with idiopathicCPP. Our findings demonstrate that the addition of GH leads to significant improvements in several intermediate growth outcomes, including height gain,PAH, growth velocity, and height changes during treatment. These results align with prior studies suggesting that GH supplementation may help counteract the growth deceleration that commonly occurs during GnRHa-induced pubertal suppression (2325).

However, despite these improvements in short-term and surrogate growth metrics, our meta-analysis found no statistically significant benefit of combination therapy on final adult height. This finding is consistent with several previous investigations, including randomized trials and longitudinal cohort studies, which reported limited or no added value of GH on final height when combined with GnRHa (2628). In contrast, some studies have reported a positive final height effect, particularly in girls with severely compromised PAH at baseline or those who respond poorly to GnRHa alone (29, 30). These discrepancies may reflect variation in inclusion criteria, treatment initiation age, GH dosing, and duration of follow-up across studies.

Our findings regarding PAH improvement and enhanced height gain are in agreement with earlier literature suggesting that GH is particularly beneficial in cases with advanced bone age or low baseline growth velocity (31, 32). Studies have reported that PAH increased significantly in girls treated with combined therapy compared to those receiving GnRHa alone, especially in individuals with PAH below the normal range (33). Similarly, a meta-analysis by Liu et al. highlighted consistent improvements in PAH and height velocity among combination therapy recipients, although it also noted significant heterogeneity in final height outcomes (34). The current synthesis reaffirms these trends and further supports the value of PAH and growth velocity as sensitive indicators of treatment responsiveness.

Importantly, our analysis shows that GH supplementation does not significantly affect bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA), suggesting that the observed growth acceleration does not come at the cost of prematurely closing growth plates. This is in line with prior studies that have reported stable bone age progression rates during combined therapy (35, 36), reinforcing the safety of GH in this context regarding skeletal maturation. The maintenance of physiological bone development is a key consideration in evaluating the long-term effectiveness and safety of any intervention aimed at improving height outcomes in pediatric populations.

From a clinical standpoint, our findings suggest that GH co-treatment “may be considered for selected patients.” More specifically, the greatest potential benefit may be expected in girls with low PAH at baseline or in those demonstrating poor growth velocity during GnRHa monotherapy. However, the decision to initiate combination therapy must also weigh broader considerations, including the high financial cost of GH, the need for long-term injections, and the potential risk of overtreatment in children who may ultimately reach an acceptable adult height without adjunctive therapy.

This study has several strengths, including a rigorous methodological approach, pre-specified subgroup analyses, and a comprehensive assessment of multiple growth outcomes. This study has several limitations. First, although our meta-analysis included nine comparative studies, only one was a randomized controlled trial; the remainder were retrospective or case–control studies, which increases the risk of bias due to non-random treatment allocation and unmeasured confounding. Second, substantial heterogeneity was observed in some outcomes, particularly final height and height gain, likely reflecting differences in baseline characteristics, GH dosage, timing of initiation, treatment duration, and follow-up length across studies. Third, important clinical variables including age stratification (<10 vs. ≥10 years), whether GH was initiated after or concurrently with GnRHa, and whether patients received GH without GnRHa were not explicitly reported in the included studies, preventing further subgroup analyses. Fourth, factors such as sex, GH dose adjustment, follow-up IGF-1 levels, and adherence were inconsistently described, limiting our ability to evaluate their influence on treatment response. Finally, the included studies did not provide sufficient information to allow further analysis of high-risk subgroups, such as patients with severely compromised predicted adult height or poor growth velocity during GnRHa therapy. Future studies should stratify these subgroups to better define which patients are most likely to benefit from GH co-treatment.

Conclusions

In summary, this meta-analysis shows that adding GH to GnRHa therapy in girls with CCP significantly improves intermediate growth outcomes, including height gain, PAH, growth velocity, and height change during treatment, without accelerating bone maturation. However, these short-term benefits did not translate into consistent improvements in final adult height, underscoring the need for cautious interpretation and individualized treatment decisions. Given the heterogeneity among studies and the limited number of high-quality randomized controlled trials, further research is needed to better define the patient subgroups most likely to benefit and to determine the optimal timing and duration of GH co-treatment. Future work should also consider cost-effectiveness and the potential risks of overtreatment to ensure that combined therapy is applied judiciously in clinical practice.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author contributions

SJ: Methodology, Formal Analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Data curation. YS: Formal Analysis, Data curation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Investigation. ZZ: Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. HY: Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Data curation, Supervision, Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing – original draft.

Funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by a grant from Science and technology Bureau of Zhejiang Province (No.LTGC24H200003).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.

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Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1662808/full#supplementary-material

Supplementary Figure 1 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of final height minus target height (FH-TH).

Supplementary Figure 2 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of final height.

Supplementary Figure 3 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of height gain.

Supplementary Figure 4 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of height changes during treatment.

Supplementary Figure 5 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of predicted adult height (PAH).

Supplementary Figure 6 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of growth velocity.

Supplementary Figure 7 | Forest plot of subgroup analysis of bone maturation (ΔBA/ΔCA).

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Keywords: central precocious puberty, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, growth hormone, final height, height gain, meta-analysis

Citation: Jin S, Sun Y, Zhu Z and Yu H (2025) Efficacy of combined gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue and growth hormone therapy in girls with central precocious puberty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Endocrinol. 16:1662808. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1662808

Received: 09 July 2025; Accepted: 12 September 2025;
Published: 07 October 2025.

Edited by:

Huseyin Demirbilek, Hacettepe University, Türkiye

Reviewed by:

Semra Çaglar Çetinkaya, University of Health Sciences, Türkiye
Quynh Thi Vu Huynh, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Copyright © 2025 Jin, Sun, Zhu and Yu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Haitao Yu, aHR5dTIwMTFAemp1LmVkdS5jbg==

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