Letrozole in Paediatric Females for Peripheral Precocious Puberty: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety.

Abstract

Letrozole, a third-generation aromatase inhibitor, has been increasingly investigated as an off-label treatment to improve growth outcomes in paediatric boys, whereas its use in girls has remained limited because of concerns regarding safety and efficacy, given the critical role of oestrogens in female physiology. This gender gap has delayed research on letrozole in girls. To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy, growth outcomes, and safety profile of letrozole in girls with peripheral precocious puberty (PPP). PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception to May 2026, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420261423918). Eligible studies evaluated letrozole monotherapy in girls aged ≤18 years. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI checklists and Murad tool. Data were synthesised narratively according to the SWiM guideline. Twenty-two observational studies encompassing 151 female patients were included. Twenty-one studies evaluated letrozole for PPP, predominantly McCune-Albright syndrome, where treatment effectively slowed pubertal progression, reduced bone age advancement, and improved predicted adult height. One exploratory study evaluated girls with short stature without pubertal disorders. Transition to central precocious puberty occurred during follow-up in 41.3% of patients. Safety was favourable (adverse events: 3.3%), with no clinically significant hyperandrogenism or hepatotoxicity. Letrozole demonstrates meaningful clinical benefits in girls with PPP, particularly regarding pubertal control and predicted adult height, accompanied by a favourable safety profile. Well-designed prospective studies are needed to establish optimal dosing, long-term safety, and final adult height outcomes in the female paediatric population.