ESPE Abstracts

Background: Epidemiological evidence in Europe indicates the increasing prevalence of premature puberty, especially in girls. This may be attributed to in utero and early-life exposure to environmental estrogen-like compounds present in pesticides, plastics (bisphenol A, phtalates …) and beauty products.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of premature thelarche (PT) and central precocious puberty (C...

Background: Body composition measures differ between DEXA scanners. If an old DEXA is replaced a transition period for double measurements on the old and the new scanner is needed.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate differences between the old (Hologic QDR 2000) and new (Hologic Discovery Wi) scanner and to calculate formula transforming measurements.Method: 51 double measurements were performed on a group of 41 children and adul...

Background: In children with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) on Growth Hormone treatment (GHT) bone age (BA) acceleration is often observed. Little is known on reasons and consequences.Objective and hypotheses: To quantify BA acceleration in pre-pubertal PWS children on GHT and to investigate how BA correlates with weight gain and age at onset of GHT. To assess how final height depends on pre-pubertal bone maturation, weight gain and age at onset of GHT....

Background: Children with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) require glucocorticoid replacement. The measurement of cortisol and steroid precursors in saliva is particularly suitable for pediatric endocrinology. Data on salivary cortisol measurements in patients with CAH is limited.Objective and hypothesis: The cortisol in saliva shows a circadian rhythm even under steroid substitution. This is independent of...

Background: Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is characterised by a central deficiency of arginine vasopressin (AVP) with polyuria and polydipsia. The etiology is heterogeneous. The treatment of choice is the oral or nasal application of DDAVP (synthetic analogue of AVP). CDI in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) has been reported in an individual case.Case report: We present a 9-year old male with CDI of u...

Background: Treatment of pediatric obesity is challenging and especially the long-term outcome has been modest in many previous studies.Objective and hypotheses: We wanted to evaluate the efficacy of obesity treatment in specialist care and to find out factors, which have a major impact on the outcome.Methods: A total of 654 children (302 girls) aged 2–18 years treated for obesity between 2005 and 2012 in three specialist clin...

Background and aims: Existence and diagnostic procedures of neurosecretory dysfunction (NSD) are still a matter of debate. The aim of the study was to analyse prediagnostic data of short-statured children with pathologic and normal spontaneous GH-secretion and to evaluate the effect of GH-therapy in NSD-patients.Methods: Of 90 children aged 3–16 years, in whom 12-hour night profiles for GH-secretion were performed (unicentric), in 49 NSD was diagnos...

Background: ‘Dead in Bed syndrome’ mechanism in childhood diabetes remains unknown. The hypothesis is that a nocturnal hypoglycaemia could lead to arrhythmias related to abnormal ventricular repolarisation.Objective and hypotheses: To look for a relationship between spontaneous fluctuations of nocturnal glycaemia, ventricular repolarization and heart rate variability (HRV) in prepubertal children with type 1 diabetes.Meth...

Introduction: Turner syndrome (TS) is a rare X-chromosomal disease, which affects one in 2500-3000 female newborns. TS is associated with a distinct cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Arterial hypertension is present in up to 50% of young TS women and closely related to the onset of aortic dilatation and dissection. The effective management of arterial hypertension can be considered as crucial to improve overall cardiovascular outcome of TS women. In the ...

Background: Pharmacologic options for treatment of osteolytic diseases especially in children are limited. Although not licensed for use, denosumab, a fully humanized antibody to RANKL, is used in children and shows good effects. Among others, one indication are giant cell tumors of the bone. Yet, there are reports of severe hypercalcemia after stop of denosumab, an adverse effect which is rarely seen in adults.Case reports: Four patients, aged 6, 13 and...