Gene Alias

Histrelin

Background

Histrelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that acts as a potent inhibitor of gonadotropin when administered as an implant delivering continuous therapeutic doses. This drug is a synthetic analog of naturally occurring GnRH with a higher potency. Histrelin inhibits gonadotropin secretion through the reversible down-regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors in the pituitary gland and desensitization of the pituitary gonadotropes.6,8 In pediatric patients with central precocious puberty (CPP), long-term treatment with histrelin acetate suppresses the luteinizing hormone (LH) response to GnRH, causing LH levels to decrease to prepubertal levels within one month of treatment. This reduces ovarian and testicular steroidogenesis and slows down linear growth velocity, improving the chance of attaining predicted adult height.