ESPE Abstracts

Background: The activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis during the first months both in males(M) and females(F) is named as minipuberty. Urinary gonadotropins (uGn) represent an unexpensive and non-invasive method of assessing pubertal development and they have recently been used also for studying minipuberty.Aims of the study are: 1) to describe the urinary hormonal pattern (uLH, uFSH, testosterone – uT, oestra...

Bone fragility is a more typical condition of old age, linked to physiological aging. In pediatric age, on the contrary, it represents a rare problem, but more often has an underlying primary cause. This condition manifests itself in most cases with recurrent or abnormal fractures and bone deformities, with a limitation of mobility, bone pain and consequent reduction in the quality of life of the child. The great difficulty for the clinician consists in reaching a correct diag...

Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder in children. It usually presents with nonspecific symptoms, that can be mild and occur slowly over time, compromising a timely diagnosis, with possible effects on pituitary gland, multiple organs and growth. In case of long-standing unrecognized hypothyroidism, myxedema or myxedema coma can occur, rare but severe conditions. This case report describes an adolescent presenting with extensive trunk and neck swelling. After exclu...

Background: Adult survivors from childhood malignancy are prone to accelerated atherogenesis and cardiovascular (CV) complications. In this population reliable tools are needed to detect preclinical onset of CV disease.Aim: To assess subclinical markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in young survivors from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with chemotherapy without cranial irradiation (AIEOP 2000 a...

Background: Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by absence or inadequately low circulating concentrations of parathyroid hormone, resulting in hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and elevated fractional excretion of calcium in the urine. The use of activated vitamin D analogues and calcium supplements are recommended as the primary therapy. To avoid vitamin D and calcium side effects, subcutaneous recombinant human parathormone [rhPTH (1-34)] has been proposed f...

Introduction: Copeptin is a stable AVP surrogate, secreted in equimolar relationship, who has been proposed for the diagnosis of AVP-related hypo and hypernatremic disorders, i.e. the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretions (SIADH), the cerebral/renal salt wasting syndrome (C/RSW) and diabetes insipidus (DI). Few data exist about the normal ranges for plasma copeptin levels in the pediatric age, reported between 2.4-8.6 pmol/L. The aim of this study is to rep...

Introduction: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS-1) also called autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare monogenic autosomal recessive disease known by the triad of the major components hypoparathyroidism, primary adrenocortical insufficiency and chronic mucocutaneous candidosis. However, many minor diseases could be present such as other endocrine manifestations (gonadal insufficiency, DM type 1, thyroid dis...

Introduction: Although vitamin D deficit is the most common cause of rickets there are many rare genetically transmitted forms as hypophosphatemic rickets, a family of hereditary diseases characterized by low phosphorous plasma levels and resistance to 25OH-vitamin D replacement.Case report: This is the case of a 3.6 year-old Italian child sent from the General Pediatrician, for rickets suspicion. Silent personal history...

Background: X-linked Congenital Adrenal Hypoplasia (AHC) is a rare cause of primary adrenal insufficiency due to mutations in NR0B1 gene, causing a loss of function of the nuclear receptor protein DAX-1. Adrenal insufficiency usually presents in the first two months of life, but sometimes can appear later in childhood. Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism is often associated later in life and all patients develop azoospermia. We describe an unusual onset of AHC started with ...

Background: Growth Hormone (GH) plays an important role in linear growth and in bone turnover during childhood. GH deficiency (GHD) may cause secondary osteoporosis associated to low bone mineral density (BMD), impairment of bone turnover and increased fracture rate. The effects of treatment with recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) on bone metabolism are controversial. We aimed to assess BMD using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) among a cohort of children with GHD ...