ESPE Abstracts

Background: CS is characterized by excess glucocorticoid excess, either endogenous or exogenous. In children younger than 7 years, the adrenal origin is the most common cause. From this age until adulthood predominates Cushing’s disease (central cause). We can divide CS in ACTH-dependent and independent according to laboratory findings. When ACTH-independent, etiologies are related to benign or malignant diseases of the adrenal or McCune Albright syndrome.<p class="ab...

Background: Transverse Myelitis (TM) is an auto-immune syndrome with neural injury to the spinal cord. The TM may be first clinical manifestation of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is known that Turner’s Syndrome (TS) is associated to the presence of autoimmune diseases.Case Report: A 15-year old female, began with manifestations of loss of strength on the lower limbs evolving rapidly with sensorial loss, tetraparesis and hemodynamic instability, requir...

Background: Congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) may be associated with pituitary/extra pituitary abnormalities. Well-known causes are mutations in pituitary transcription factor genes. Agenesis of internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare vascular anomaly that has been associated with CPHD.Case presentation: The patient is a 2-year old male, born at term to non-consanguineous parents, birth wt 3.2 kg, length 47 cm, no gestational or per...

Background: Pituicytoma is a very low-grade glioma that originate in the neurohypophisis and infundibulum.Objective and hypotheses: Describe diagnosis and treatment of associated pituicytoma and ACTH-secreting adenoma in a 6-year-old girl.Method: Case report and literature review.Results: We report the case of a 6-year-old presented with growth failure and associated weight gain, premature pubarche, and hyper...

Background: Newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is based on the determination of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) on blood and its need is confirmed by the most recent guidelines on the subject. In Italy this screening is not mandatory, and its application is on a regional basis. Among its disadvantages, it is well known the high frequency of false-positives, in particular in premature babies and those born small for gestational age. Howev...

Craniopharyngioma is a rare, embryonic malformation of the sellar/parasellar region with low histological grade. In childhood-onset craniopharyngioma (CoCR), endocrine dysfunctions, severe obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS), neurological impairment and reduced quality of life have been described as consequences of both localization and treatment. To characterize a population with CoCR and to correlate endocrine/metabolic sequelae with different surgery approach we performed...

Background: Increasing incidence of pediatric obesity has been observed worldwide. Metabolic syndrome, characterized by visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose metabolism, is associated with obesity.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate early ocular signs of hypertension by retinography in a cohort of overweight (BMI>85th)/obese (BMI>95th) children, in order to define the prevalence of retinal alterations and characteriz...

Background: The use of international or local growth charts for the definition of pediatric obesity is still debated. Inappropriate reference standards may lead to under/over-estimation of the prevalence and consequently of the number of patients to be included in diagnostic work-up.Objective and hypotheses: To define the differences between patients considered obese according to either CDC or Italian growth charts.Method: A single...

Background: Congenital proopiomelanocortin deficiency (POMC) gene mutations cause early-onset obesity, hyperphagia and ACTH deficiency. In the subjects with this picture, neuropsychiatric (NP) features were rarely reported. Many Authors described an appetite loss during the topiramate treatment.Objective and hypotheses: To discuss NP features observed in a POMC deficient patient and to propose a therapeutic attempt to reduce the hyperphagia.<p class=...

Introduction: Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely performed to identify brain lesions in boys with central precocious puberty (CPP). In contrast to girls, in whom more than 90% of cases are idiopathic, it has been reported that 4 up to 75% of boys with CPP have pathological brain lesions.Aim: to evaluate the prevalence of brain lesions in males with isolated CPP and to identify potential clinical and bioc...