ESPE Abstracts

Background: Vertebral fractures (VF) are recognised as an important aspect of bone health in children and adolescents, yet most of them are not clinically apparent. The clinical utility of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for vertebral morphometry has not been evaluated in the paediatric population.Method: VFA was performed independently by two non-radiologist observers in 110 patients (52M/58F) as part of ...

Background: Prenatal diagnosis (PND) via amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling may result in the identification of a sex chromosome abnormality, often as an incidental finding.Objective and hypotheses: The aims of this study were to ascertain the prevalence of sex chromosome abnormalities detected by prenatal diagnosis in Scotland and to determine the outcomes for these cases.Method: A retrospective review of all prenatal kary...

Background: Bisphosphonate therapy (BPT) reduces osteoclast activity and may be associated with adynamic bone turnover. The extent of suppression of bone turnover and its determinants are unclear.Method: Markers of bone metabolism were evaluated in 15 children (9M/6F) undergoing BPT for osteoporosis. The median age at first biochemical assessment was 10.8 years (0.16, 16.3). Serum type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX), alkaline phosphatase (AL...

Background: There is growing concern about the impact of eating disorders on the bone heath during adolescence where peak bone mass acquisition is of paramount importance.Method: A total of 85 patients (77F/8M, 75% anorexia nervosa(AN) and 25% atypical eating disorder), median age 15.2 years (range, 10.9–19.8) and median BMI SDS −1.3 (−4.7 to 0.8) attended the bone densitometry service between Jan 2009 and Dec 2013 for total body (TB) an...

Background: Short stature is a recognized complication of Crohn’s disease (CD) in children. Less is known on the impact of disease on final adult height and body proportions.Objective and hypotheses: To assess height and body proportions in 48 adults (F: 30; M: 18) with childhood (ACO) or adult (AAO) onset CD and 44 children (C) (F:22; M:22) with CD.Method: Standing, sitting height (SH) and leg length (SILL) were measured and ...

Background: In children undergoing investigation of testicular function the relationship between serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and the testosterone response to hCG stimulation test (HST) is unclear.Method: 75 children (3F, 72M) with a median age of 1.08 years (range, 0.003, 14.3) were investigated for suspected DSD by AMH on D1 and testosterone on D1 and D4, before and after 3-day HST. Of these children, 27 had an additional prolonged HST. Normal te...

Introduction: Among Disorders of Sex Development (DSDs), XY DSD, represents the most challenging group in terms of identifying a diagnosis.Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of biochemical and molecular genetic tests in a cohort of boys with XY DSD and to collate the phenotypes of patients with results of laboratory investigations and presence of associated abnormalities.Methods: New and existing cases...

It is important that any child or adolescent with a suspected difference or disorder of sex development (DSD) is assessed by an experienced clinician with adequate knowledge about the range of conditions associated with DSD. In most cases, the paediatric endocrinologist within this service acts as the first point of contact but involvement of the regional multidisciplinary service is critical. The members of this service should be involved in education and training as well as ...

Introduction: Although short stature is common in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), little information on body proportions and the GH/IGF-1 axis exists.Methods: Total height (Ht), sitting height (SH), leg length (LL) and bone lengths (femur, tibia, humerus) in boys with DMD (n=30) and healthy boys (n=79) were measured using DXA digital images by 1 observer. Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF1), IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and a...

Background: Hypospadias surgery is usually performed during infancy at which time parents act as proxy decision makers. Parental decisional regret, a common phenomenon after hypospadias surgery, may be affected by the process of informed consent where decision making between parents and healthcare provider is shared based on available evidence and individual concerns.Objective: To identify short- and long-term parental c...