ESPE Abstracts

Background: Familial hyperaldosteronism type 1 (FH-1), is caused by the presence of a chimeric CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene that produces high amounts of aldosterone in response to ACTH and severe hypertension. An early diagnosis and treatment are important, not only to manage hypertension but also to avoid possible deleterious effects of aldosterone on the endothelium and cardiovascular diseases.Clinical case: A 3 months old boy was referred for evalua...

Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare overgrowth disorder characterised by macroglossia, exomphalos, lateralised overgrowth, organomegaly, hyperinsulinism, and an increased risk of embryonic tumor during early life. In about 80% of BWS cases, molecular defects are identified at the imprinted 11p15.5 region which contains the IGF2 and the CDKN1C genes (most patients show methylation defects at either imprinting control region IC1 or IC2, or paternal unip...

Objective: To evaluate the impact of gestational age and birthweight on dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA and DHEA-S) in children born very preterm (VPT) appropriate for gestational age (GA) compared to children born at term (T).Methods: We recorded anthropometric parameters in 72 VPT (<32 GA) and 41 T (≥ 38 GA) aged 5.0–8.5 years. Birthweight standard deviation scores (BW-SDS) were calculated using INTERGROWT...

Background: Very preterm neonates are at risk for metabolic syndrome later in life. Our objective was to compare anthropometric measures and insulin resistance variables between children who were born very preterm (VPT, <32 gestational weeks) and term (T, >37 gestational weeks), and adequate for gestational age (AGA).Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study we recruited 113 children 5.0 to 8.5 years old from the preterm clinic of our institu...

Background: Leptin is considered to play an important role in the development of hypertension in obesity. The excessive synthesis of aldosterone contributes to the development and progression of metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions. Leptin is a newly described regulator of aldosterone synthesis that acts directly on adrenal glomerulosa cells to increase CYP11B2 expression and enhance aldosterone production in human adrenal cells lines and in animal models.<p class="ab...

Background: Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) have familial aggregation and frequently share a common genetic background, but few studies have evaluated autoimmune clusters in children with AIDs and their families.Objective and hypotheses: To identify clusters of AIDs in children and their first-degree relatives.Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in subjects with an AID of pediatric onset (<18 years) recruited at Pediatric ...

Introduction: Higher evening cortisol level has been previously described in very preterm infants, possibly reflecting increased Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA) tone or alterations in HPA regulation throughout the day. These relatively subtle differences in HPA axis function in preterm compared to full-term children may become meaningful in terms of metabolic risk later in life if sustained over time. Still, only a few studies have investigated wheth...

Background: In vitro studies suggest a broader role for aldosterone, beyond elevating blood pressure. Clinical data support the notion that aldosterone can directly alter the function of the immune system and can participate in low-grade inflammation which leads to blood pressure elevation and end organ damage.Objective and hypothesis: To assess in humans, whether aldosterone plasma levels and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression associate...

Background: Paediatric hypertension is increasing and has been associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Recently, cortisol:cortisone ratio and the metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), which is a marker of vascular remodelling, have been syndicated as new risk factors associated with hypertension.Objective and hypotheses: To analyse the association between paediatric hypertension with clinical, biochemical, inflammation, and vascular remodelling biomarkers<...

Background: Iodine concentrations in Chilean schoolchildren are the highest in South America. This may be related to excessive sodium intake, which is associated with hypertension. However, iodine decreases blood pressure (BP), which would be a cardiovascular protective factor.Objective and hypotheses: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of iodine on BP and cardiovascular risk factors, despite salt intake.Method:...