ESPE Abstracts

Background: Several studies have investigated the effects of GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on thyroid function in children with GH deficiency (GHD) leading to contrasting results. Indeed, GHRT has been reported to affect the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones, to alter TSH secretion by pituitary and to unmask secondary hypothyroidism.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate long-term effects of GHRT on thyroid function in a large cohort of GHD childr...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) in adults has been consistently associated with increased adiposity and decreased lean mass. Data in childhood are still scanty and the most appropriate tools to assess body composition in these children remain to be established.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the effects of GHD and GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on body composition in GHD children and make a comparison between DXA and anthropometric measures in evalu...

Background: Recent studies demonstrate that children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) may develop visceral adiposity and insulin-resistance. Data on adipocytokines are scanty and contradictory.Objective: To evaluate leptin and adiponectin concentrations in CAH adolescents and investigate their correlation with glucocorticoids and hormonal and metabolic profile.Methods: Leptin, adiponectin, insulin and HOMA were evaluated i...

Background: Thyroid hormone plays a key role in bone mineral homeostasis and significant alterations in its circulating levels have been associated with an impairment in skeletal growth during childhood. To date, the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) on bones have not been studied and the management of this condition is still debated.Aim: To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in children with mild, persistent S...

Background: An important issue in the management of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the best initial dose of levothyroxine (L-T4) in order to achieve optimal neurocognitive outcomes. Both European and American guidelines suggest an initial dose of 10–15 μg/kg per die but trials on long-term effects of different doses within this range are lacking.Objective and hypotheses: This was a multicenter randomized trial to ev...

Background: Several metabolic abnormalities, including unfavourable lipid profile, impaired cardiac performance, muscle strength and endurance capacity have been documented in GH Deficiency (GHD) adults. Alterations in cardiac morphology and left ventricular function and early markers of cardiovascular risk have been also detected in GHD children; however, no studies have so far investigated the effects of GHD on physical performance and right ventricular (RV) function in chil...

Background: Among their metabolic effects, GH and its mediator IGF1 have been reported to influence hematopoiesis. Indeed, GH/IGF1 axis promotes erythropoiesis and GH deficiency (GHD) has been associated with a normochromic and normocytic anemia both in adults and in children. In contrast, in vivo data on the effects of GH/IGF1 axis on leukocytes and platelets are scanty.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the effects of 4-years GH replacement...

Background: The initial L-T4 dose currently recommended in the treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is 10–15 mcg/kg per day.Objective and hypotheses: We designed a multicenter randomized trial to evaluate the effects of different starting doses of L-T4 within the range 10–15 mcg/kg per day on neurocognitive development in children with CH.Method: Seventy-two children with CH diagnosed by neonatal screening were enr...