ESPE Abstracts

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are approved for the treatment of T2DM and obesity and high dose liraglutide is FDA approved for chronic weight management in pediatric patients aged 12 and older who are obese. GLP-1R may also have a beneficial effect on the central and peripheral nervous system. Corneal Confocal Microscopy (CCM) has been used to show early nerve fiber regeneration in adults with obesity with and without diabetes....

Background: Obesity is highly prevalent worldwide, particularly in the MENA region. Whilst simple obesity has a variable genetic and environmental basis, syndromic and non-syndromic monogenic obesity has a strong genetic component. Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) mutations are the commonest cause of monogenic obesity. MC4R also regulates neuropathic pain pathways via JNK signaling after nerve injury.Methods: Five children...

Background: Childhood obesity is recognized as a chronic illness with limited therapeutic options. Addressing this condition through lifestyle interventions has proven to be challenging, particularly for adolescents, with only minimal outcomes observed. The use of GLP-1 agonists (such as Liraglutide) for reducing body weight in pediatric patients has yielded conflicting results. To date, no studies conducted in the Middle East have reported on the outcomes of ...

Background: Obesity is highly prevalent in the MENA region, especially in children and it has been associated with neurodegeneration. We have undertaken corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to assess for evidence of neurodegeneration in children with simple obesity and monogenic obesity (MC4R gene mutation) and further assessed the effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist (GLP-1) therapy on corneal nerve regeneration.Methods:</stro...

Background: Childhood obesity is highly prevalent in the MENA region and may be associated with sub-clinical neuropathy.Methods: Children with obesity with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and Type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and healthy controls (HC) underwent body composition analysis, assessment of vibration perception threshold (VPT), monofilament sensitivity and corneal confocal micros...

Background: Childhood obesity presents a significant global health concern, leading to long-term morbidity and mortality. While lifestyle interventions remain fundamental, pharmacological approaches, particularly using glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, show promise in certain patient populations. However, studies exploring this avenue, particularly in the Middle East and North African region, are limited. This study aims to share our experienc...