ESPE Abstracts

Background: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is traditionally described as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses and remains a challenging condition, affecting 1-3% of couples trying to conceive. Although factors such as uterine abnormalities, maternal hypothyroidism and parental balanced translocations are associated with RM, in most situations the aetiology is unknown. The coexistence of RM and live births in many families suggests a potential association wit...

An 11-year-old female presents with a 6-week history of double and blurred vision associated with headaches and neck swelling. Thyroid function tests demonstrated antibody negative hypothyroidism and connective tissue disorder screening was negative. The patient was commenced on thyroid hormone replacement (levothyroxine). 5 days later, she re-presented with strabismus and progressive diplopia. Intracranial imaging was performed to rule out space occupying masses. A diagnosis ...

Introduction and Aim: The Incidence of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) varies markedly between populations and over time. Recently a number of high incidence countries, including Ireland, have reported a stabilisation and/or reduction in their T1DM incidence rate (IR) in childhood. Ireland, a high incidence country for T1DM, experienced a dramatic increase in T1DM incidence between 1997 and 2008, a stabilisation in incidence between 2014 and 2018 followed by a...

Background: Identification of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) is an essential part of Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) in the UK. NBS for CH relies on Blood Spot (BS) Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) measurement in newborns on day 5 of life. Diagnostic confirmation of a screen positive result requires measurement of plasma/serum free thyroxine (fT4) and TSH but technetium thyroid scanning is not mandatory. Technetium-99m scintigraphy can be used to define siz...

Background: Most cases of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) are acquired and genetic aetiology is rare in the UK. We have investigated whether environmental factors are implicated in ‘idiopathic’ MPHD (IMPHD).Objective and hypotheses: In IMPHD to determine perinatal risk factors and radiological features; to identify the regional epidemiology.Method: Systematic analysis of paediatric IMPHD cases in the UK West ...

Importance: Current practice of doubling or trebling the basal glucocorticoid (GC) replacement dose during acute illnesses in children and young people (CYP) with GC deficiency is extrapolated from research in adults and not based on robust evidence. Endogenous cortisol levels during acute illnesses in CYP without GC deficiency can provide insight for optimal GC stress dosing for CYP with GC deficiency.Objective: To summ...

Background: Maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy and excessive gestational weight gain (GWtG) have been recognized as important early-life risk factors for childhood obesity. We aimed to examine whether maternal BMI at 20 weeks of gestation and excessive GWtG were associated with alterations in body composition and metabolism in childhood in the offspring of primiparous mothers who participated in a randomised controlled trial of exercise regimen during pregnancy.<...

Background: Wolfram syndrome (WS) is a monogenic disorder associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), optic atrophy, diabetes insipidus (DI), neurological deterioration and deafness. Growth has been poorly characterised in case series.Objective and hypotheses: To determine growth and prevalence of endocrine disorders, qualify therapies and metabolic outcome for DM, and relationship of cranial MRI findings to clinical findings in children and young people (CY...

Background: Following Barker’s hypothesis on fetal growth retardation, low birth weight and being born small for gestational age (SGA) might be linked to fewer glomeruli which influences adult disease. Growth hormone (GH) treatment leads to a greater kidney length and total kidney volume, as well as a higher glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Microalbuminuria, defined as more than 20 mg/l albumin in random urine sample, is a marker for renal diseases and is a risk factor f...

Background: GH treatment increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as serum IGF-I stimulates the renin-angiotensin system. Data on longitudinal changes in GFR after cessation of GH treatment in young adults born small for gestational age (SGA) are not available. It is essential to ascertain longitudinal data after cessation of GH treatment, to evaluate the possible long-term effects of higher serum IGF-I levels during childhood treatment on adult GFR.<p ...