ESPE Abstracts

Background: The diagnostic use of IGF-1 in children suspected of GHD is based on the assumption that a single determination of this parameter reflects the integrated 24-h GH secretion. IGF-1 levels are low in GHD, but a study found a significantly lower sensitivity in children with organic lesions in the brain.Objective: The aim of this study was to check if there is a statistically significant relation between IGF-1 values in children with GHD with and ...

Background: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a multifactorial condition, which implies symptoms as fatigue, tachycardia, sleep disorders and autonomic symptoms. The fundamental clinical sign is the manifestation of an abnormal increase in heart rates of at least 40 bpm within 10 minutes assuming an upright position, delineating a condition of orthostatic intolerance and decreasing quality of life.Objective</str...

Background: Early predictors of cardiovascular risk using anthropometric and laboratory variables available in the general practice in obese children are poorly identified.Objective and hypotheses: To identify best predictors of early cardiovascular risk in obese children between anthropometric and laboratory parameters.Method: Cardiovascular risk was determined by measuring intima-media thickness of the right common carotid artery...

Introduction: Heterozygous mutations in IHH are known to cause Brachydactyly type A1 (BDA1), in which the typical clinical features are bilaterally short-ening or absence of the middle phalanges of most digits of hands and feet, shortness of 1st proximal bone and short stature; althougt short stature is considered part of BDA1, in most reported cases is not always present or unrelevant compared to the stature of unaffected relatives. Recently heterozygous mutations ...

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients have an elevated incidence of growth hormone deficiency and thyroid diseases. Nevertheless, no auxological data are available in these subjects.Objective and hypotheses: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the auxological features in a cohort of patients with VKC.Method: This study included 179 Caucasian VKC patients (119 males, 60 females; mean age 9.63±2.98 years) ...

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic (chromosomal) mental retardation syndrome. In these patients, several environmental and hormonal factors contribute to low bone mineral density (BMD), among these factors, vitamin D may play a significant role in the health of patients with DS. However, poor studies have evaluated 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol (25(OH)D) levels in DS.Objective and hypotheses: The purpose of this study was to assess se...

Background: Unlike precocious puberty, early and/or fast puberty have been less studied, despite the fact that this disorder may be associated to an organic lesion at CNS level.Objective and hypotheses: We illustrate a case of early and fast puberty in a girl with an occult intra-cranial tumor.Method: The girl was the first child of non-consanguineous, Italian parents. The family had a positive history of early puberty. Target heig...

Background: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII), is a rare renal tubular disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by hyperkalemic, hyperchloremic acidosis and hyporeninemia. Mutations in WNK4 and WNK1 were found initially. Recently have shown that KLHL3 and CUL3 are also causative genes.Objective and hypotheses: Hypertension, an essential symptom of PHAII, manifest in adolescents and young adults. In the absence of family history ...

Background: Prevalence of childhood obesity (OB) represents a major public health concern, given the tracking of body weight from childhood to adult age and obesity-related morbidity.Objective: To describe prevalence of overweight (OW) and OB in children at 8 years and investigate relationship with metabolic alterations (lipid profile and insulin resistance).Methods: 485 pregnant mothers recruited between 2004-2007 and 409 children...

Introduction: Growth velocity is reduced in patients with GH deficiency and this may result in an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI). Treatment performed with Growth Hormone (GH) while accelerating growth velocity, might reduce BMI. The objective of this study was to evaluate BMI in patients with GHD at diagnosis, 1 y and 2 y after started treatment with GH and to compare if there is difference between the BMI of the patients with and without pituitary abnormalities.<p clas...