ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex hypothalamic disorder, causing hypotonia, intellectual disability (ID), pituitary hormone deficiencies and hyperphagia. Up to 4% of young patients with PWS die unexpectedly, every year. The mean age of reported deaths in PWS is 29.5 years; 20% of deaths even occur below age 18 years. Mortality data show that more than 50% of deaths are of cardio-pulmonary origin. Morbid obesity, diabetes and hypertension are strong risk fa...

Introduction: Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) suffer from hyperphagia, hypotonia and hypothalamic dysfunction, leading to a variety of pituitary hormone deficiencies. Central adrenal insufficiency (CAI) has been reported in PWS, while each of these studies used different testing modalities and cut-off values. Therefore, reported prevalence of CAI ranges from 0% to 60%. It has been speculated that CAI might be responsible, at least in part,...

Introduction: Patients with rare genetic syndromes (RGS) often have a combination of hormone deficiencies, organ problems and neurodevelopmental disorders. Due to excellent paediatric care, a growing number of patients is reaching adult age. Transition of these patients to adult health care system has proved to be challenging. Due to the rarity and complexity of their syndromes, patients with RGS often suffer from medical complications due to needless diagnost...

Introduction: Recombinant Growth Hormone (GH) has changed the lives of many patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). GH treatment has beneficial effects on body composition, physical performance, cognition, psychomotor development, respiratory function and quality of life of patients with PWS. Due to the narrow therapeutic range, GH treatment is subject to strict limits. Clinicians measure serum immunoreactive Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 ('total IGF-I&#...