Pseudotumor cerebri in patient on leuprolide acetate for central precocious puberty

Int J Pediatr Endocrinol. 2020 Dec 3;2020(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13633-020-00092-4.

Abstract

Background: Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) are well established as a standard of care for the treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) worldwide. While numerous delivery systems and routes of administration exist, depot intramuscular injections or sustained-release preparations have been most widely used. Leuprolide acetate is well tolerated among children though some can develop some complications.

Case presentation: We present a case report of a 6.5 year old girl with central precocious puberty who developed signs of pseudotumor cerebri after 2 doses of leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg given monthly. Systemic exam and other tests to look for the cause did not yield anything. However, fundoscopy showed marked papilloedema with blurred disc margins. After six weeks' treatment with acetazolamide and withdrawal of the GRNHa the papilloedema resolved.

Conclusions: If a patient presents with complaints such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and double vision in pediatric patients treated with GnRH analogue one should highly consider the presence of pseudotumor cerebri and fundus examination be performed.

Keywords: Central precocious puberty; Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist; Leuprolide acetate; Pseudotumor cerebri.