ESPE Abstracts

Background: Bone mass is low in obese children when measured by conventional techniques. However, these imaging modalities cannot quantify alterations in bone microstructure and strength. High resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT – isotropic voxel size 82 mm) provides the resolution required to determine 3-dimensional in-vivo bone microstructure; microfinite element (microFE) analysis of HRpQCT images provides insight into skeletal biome...

Background: In-vivo skeletal MRI imaging remains challenging due to the extremely short MR relaxation times (<1 ms) of protons bound to water in bone. However, each MRI sequence contains properties identifiable through feature-based recognition, highlighting characteristics relating to skeletal configuration. We thus present a novel statistical method for clinical 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI in quantifying trabecular microstructure and use HRpQCT to determine its accuracy.<...

Background: DAVID syndrome (deficit in anterior pituitary function and variable immune deficiency) (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97 E121, 2012) can be caused by NFKB2 mutations (Am J Hum Genet 93 13, 2013). All patients have an orthotopic posterior pituitary (PP) and most only ACTH deficiency.Objective and Hypothesis: To describe a girl with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), ectopic PP (EPP) ...

Background: It is widely assumed that short stature can result in psychological, social, and physical problems. The validity and efficacy of GH in management of short stature is still debated.Aims: This study aimed to i) estimate the prevalence of short stature in preschool children (4–6 years), and determine the final diagnosis of abnormality based on different investigations, and ii) assess the impact of intervention for short stature among presch...

Background: An adrenal crisis (AC) is a life-threatening complication of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Despite modern therapies, children with CAH still present with symptomatic adrenal insufficiency (AI) and AC.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to determine the spectrum of symptoms and signs of AI in children with diagnosed CAH who were admitted to hospital for an acute illness, as well as to evaluate the use of stress dosing an...

Background: Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM-1) deficiency is a congenital disorder of glycosylation caused by an impairment of glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate interconversion.The clinical phenotype of PGM1 deficiency is variable and includes several endocrine manifestations such as recurrent hypoglycemia and short stature, which may be associated with the decreased levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF1) ...

Introduction:• Adrenal insufficiency is a rare, but potentially fatal medical condition 1.• In children, the cause is most commonly congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) but in recent years a growing number of causative gene mutations have been identified resulting in syndromes that share primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) characteristics.<p cl...

Background: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood, due to reprogramming of endocrine and metabolic functions. Dysregulation of specific miRNAs in response to genetic and environmental factors contribute to aberrant gene expression patterns underlying metabolic dysfunction.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to identify miRNAs associated with increased risk of obesity ...

Among the many complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D), hypoglycemia is an acute concern for children with T1D and their families. Moreover, fear of hypoglycemia is a common barrier to achieving glucose targets. Numerous advances in care have been made since the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial was published in 1993 in which lower HbA1c was associated with increasing risk of severe hypoglycemia. More recent data indicate that lower HbA1c (7% ISPAD target) can be ach...

Glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents) are critical regulators of energy metabolism and immunity. Their secretion by the adrenal gland follows a circadian pattern, with serum concentrations peaking before the active phase (day in humans, night in rodents). Synthetic glucocorticoids are the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known, and are widely used therapeutically, with >1% of the UK population holding a prescription long-term. However, frequen...