ESPE Abstracts

Background and Aims: Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient required for optimal hemopoetic, cardiovascular and neuro-cognitive functions. There are some literature data that Metformin induces vitamin B12 malabsorption, which may increase the risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency and subsequently elevation of homocysteine levels. High concentrations of homocysteine has been associated with higher risk of coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, h...

Background: Carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) deficiency is extremely rare (<1:1 000 000) autosomal recessive disease, which is characterized by the triad of osteopetrosis, basal ganglia calcifications and renal tubular acidosis. In addition short stature, facial dysmorfism and different degree of mental retardation are possible features. Different mutations of the gene for CAII on 8q21.2 lead to impaired enzyme activity and typical clinical, biochemical and imaging manifestati...

Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity has been rapidly increasing worldwide and the last report of World Health Organisation define it as epidemic and one of the most serious global public health challenges for the 21st century. Obese children and adolescents are at an increased risk of developing various health problems including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease. Obesity is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may cause early maturation of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis when the initiation of corticosteroid treatment is late or/and there is poor compliance. The latter sometimes leads to a lack of treatment. In most cases, if the child survives, he or she develops central precocious puberty.Case report: We present a 12-year-old boy born of a normal pregnancy and delivery. In the first months of lif...

Background: APS type 1 is characterized by an autosomal recessive inheritance. The clinical diagnosis is based on the presence of at least two of the three following diagnostic criteria: chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, chronic hypoparathyroidism, and autoimmune adrenal insufficiency. Patients often develop other autoimmune diseases. APS type 1 is caused by mutations in the AIRE gene which encodes the AIRE protein. The protein probably acts as a transcription factor.<p c...

Background: Obesity in children is already a global health problem. Obese children and adolescents with insulin resistance provide the pediatric healthcare professionals management challenge. Obesity with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and elevated blood pressure constitute the metabolic syndrome and each of these is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metformin is well-established oral hypoglycaemic agent in the treatment of adult and young patients...

Background: Corticosteroids are medicines that are used to treat many chronic diseases. They are very effective anti-inflammatory drugs by suppressing the immune system, and are also used as a replacement therapy in conditions with low levels of endogenous cortisol. Glucocorticoid effects on bone metabolism include: reduced absorption of calcium in the intestine; increased calcium urinary excretion; increased bone resorption and reduced bone density. Corticosteroid treatment i...

Background: Hypothyroidism is associated with impared growth and pubertal delay. However, there are female patients with untreated acquired hypothyroidism and paradoxical precocious pubertal signs, which include thelarche, galactorrhoea and menarche. These girls do not have axillary and pubic hair development. The exact mechanism for this pseudoprecocious puberty is not clear. The most probable explanation is that high levels of TSH act through the FSH recepto...

Background: Hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, and renal disease (HDR syndrome, Barakat syndrome) is a rare condition, caused by a mutation on chromosome 10p which affects the GATA3 gene. GATA3 encodes a transcription factor important for the embryonic development of the parathyroid gland, the auditory stem, and the kidneys. Its expression has also been found in the thymus and the central nervous system. A wide range of renal involvement has been rep...

Background and aims: The spread of obesity among children and adolescents is increasing significantly in the last decades. The World Health Organisation defined the disease as a global epidemic and the need of complex interventions worldwide is well recognised. Obesity is major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular and lung diseases, orthopaedic and skin problems, and cancer. There are strong predictors that 50% of pre-pubertal and 50–7...