ESPE Abstracts

Background: Generalized lymphatic anomaly (GLA) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by aggressive proliferation of dilated lymphatic vessels. The etiology of GLA is poorly understood.Objective and hypotheses: To identify the underlying genetic basis for GLA.Method: Exome sequencing (ES) was performed in two families, including a multigenerational family (family-1) with six affected members. RNA-seq was performed on skin bio...

Background: Altered arterial stiffness is a recognized risk factor of poor cardiovascularhealth. Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI, defined as one minus the regression slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure values derived from a 24 h arterial blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)) is an upcoming and readily available marker of arterial stiffness. We tested the hypothesis that AASI is increased in obese children compared to healthy subjects.Meth...

Background: Altered circadian and ultradian blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) rhythmicity has been described in many diseases with increased cardiovascular risk.Objective and hypotheses: We tested the hypothesis that rhythmicity in obese children is changed, compared to healthy subjects.Method: Circadian and ultradian BP and HR rhythmicity was assessed with Fourier analysis from 24-h ambulatory BP measurement (ABPM) in 75 obe...

Background: CrescNet is a large data base used to document children’s growth and weight development in more than 300 primary care practices and in eight specialized paediatric endocrinological centres in Germany.Aims and method: We investigated 3281 patients with IGF1 measurements during their consultations and subsequent checkups. We analysed 2269 children without an indication for rhGH treatment and 1012 who were subsequently treated with rhGH. A ...

Background: In adults it has been shown, that GHmax values after provocation testing are negatively correlated to BMI. Preliminary studies in children have found a similar correlation. Consequently children with elevated BMI would be overdiagnosed with GHD. However, studies so far were too small to define this correlation exactly. This would be a condition to judge whether and to what extend adjustments of GH cut-off levels should be considered also in children with elevated B...

Introduction: Short stature is a common finding that affects per definition about 3% of the population. Isolated, severe short stature may be treated successfully with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Currently, rhGH is offered to short children with specific disorders or biochemically proven growth hormone deficiency (GHD). However, biochemical testing for GHD is artificial and therefore controversial. Adding genetic testing may improve the diagnostic...

We have investigated two siblings, a sister and a brother, who presented at the age of 2 years, with central hypothyroidism, short stature and early onset obesity. The older sister presented at the age of 6 months with central hypothyroidism and was started on a low dose of thyroid hormone (25 ug l-thyroxine). Her growth continued to be poor and at the age of 2 years and 6 months her height was −3.98 SDS. She was started on growth hormone followed by a rapid catch-up gro...

Background: Children and adolescents with chronic conditions are at increased risk of secondary osteoporosis. In adult patients, long-term anticoagulation (LTA) including Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) treatment is associated with lower bone mineral density and hip fractures. In children and adolsescent, risk factors for impaired skeletal health and the role of LTA on bone metabolism during the vulnerable phase of linear bone growth remain poorly defined.<p cl...

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is essential for the development of primary and secondary male characteristics and is activated by its ligand dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Reduced AR activity can cause undervirilization and infertility. We recently developed an assay to test AR function as a ligand-dependent transcriptional activator in human genital skin fibroblasts (GF). So far it is unclear, if AR expression levels correlate with AR function in the male external genital...

Vitamin D supplementation is recommended for breastfed infants as primary prevention of vitamin D deficiency and nutritional rickets. Globally, the most commonly recommended dosage of vitamin D is 400 IU/day for healthy breastfed infants. Whether there are benefits of higher dosages of vitamin D to infant bone mass and body composition has been investigated. The objective of this presentation is to review the evidence from randomized controlled trials conducted in healthy term...