ESPE Abstracts

Background: Thyroid disorders in the neonatal period can have serious consequences for growth and development. Neonatal bloodspot screening identifies congenital hypothyroidism. Current guidelines both internationally and in tertiary centres in Ireland have moved towards checking thyroid function tests (TFTs) solely in infants of mothers with hyperthyroidism and those identified on neonatal bloodspot screening. The practice in OLOLH, Ireland was that all infants of mothers wit...

Background: While the primary function of vitamin D relates to calcium and bone metabolism, it is now recognised that vitamin D is a potent immunomodulator. In vitro, 1,25(OH)2D has been shown to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL6, while up regulating synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL10 and IL4. Previous in vitro studies have yielded inconsistent results on the relationship between 25OHD and cytokines in adul...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare condition but a significant cause of recurrent hypoglycaemia in infancy and childhood. Prompt recognition and appropriate management is important to avoid long-term neurological sequelae.Objective and hypotheses: To describe the presentation, clinical and genetic outcomes in a series of infants with CHI.Method: Retrospective case series of 35 patients diagnosed with CHI between...

Background: Early establishment of good metabolic control with intensive insulin therapy can reduce the incidence and delay the progression of complications in type 1 diabetes (T1D) mellitus.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the long-term outcomes of all children and adolescents started on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or pump therapy in our tertiary centre.Method: All children with T1D who started on continuous s...

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy is a leading microvascular complication and preventable cause of vision loss. NHS diabetes eye screening program (DESP) assesses for early signs, with population prevalence between 3.5% and 24.2%. Understanding the factors involved is important to reduce morbidity.Aims and objectives: Establish clinical characteristics and modifiable risk factors for patients with retinopathy identified...

Introduction: Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterised by tissue-specific insensitivity to thyroid hormone. In 85% of cases the disorder is associated with thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) gene mutations.Case report: A 2.6-year-old boy was referred to the Paediatric service with abnormal thyroid function tests (TFTs) (fT4 30.4 pmol/l; RR 12–26, fT3 10.2 pmol/l; RR 3.7&#1...

Background: Ireland has a high incidence of type 1 diabetes in childhood (16.8/100, 000 per year (1). A small percentage of children with diabetes have maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) (2). Establishing the correct diagnosis is critical to optimal therapy and future genetic counselling (3).Objective and hypothesis: To review the cohort of children attending our tertiary diabetes service and describe the clinical features of those where MODY wa...

Background: Neonatal diabetes (NDM) is defined as diabetes developing before 6 months of age, affecting one in 100 000 live births. Permanent NDM is diagnosed in the first 6 months of life with no remission. The majority have a mutation in the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel (KCNJ11 in 31%, ABCC8 in 13%). Autosomal dominant and recessive forms are described. The majority of patients with NDM caused by KATP mutations respond to sulphonylureas.<p...

Background: We recently identified loss-of-function mutations in makorin ring finger 3 (MKRN3) as a cause of familial central precocious puberty (CPP). Analysis of Mkrn3 expression in the arcuate nucleus of mice showed high expression levels in juvenile mice, with a marked reduction prior to puberty onset, suggesting that MKRN3 inhibits puberty initiation. The function of MKRN3 is not known but based on its amino acid sequence, it is predicted to act as an ubiquitin l...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and long-term glucocorticoid treatment may be associated with an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic sequelae such as abnormal glucose homeostasis, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, cardiovascular (CV) disease, obesity and osteoporosis.Objectives: To study the current practice amongst expert centres for assessing cardiometabolic outcomes in adult patients with 21-hyd...