ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Pituitary adenomas (PA) in pediatric and young patients comprise a rare pathology of unknown prevalence. The majority are sporadic, but 5% occur in a familial setting, either as isolated (FIPA) or as part of a syndrome. The identification of genetic alterations has broaden the scope of molecular investigations. We describe the clinical characteristics of patients with sporadic PA arising before the age of 35 years and perform thorough genetic scr...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), often caused by a single adenoma (80%–85%) or hyperplasia or adenomas involving multiple glands, is the major cause of hypercalcemia. PHPT is common and occurs in individuals of all ages, but its prevalence is lower in young adults. Parathyroid tumors and PHPT can be caused by germline (hereditary PHPT) or somatic mutations of tumor suppressor genes (e.g., multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and CDC73) and...

Background: Obesity is characterised by excessive fat accumulation coursing with a chronic mild inflammatory state, with adipose tissue (AT) being the main site of increased systemic cytokine production. Increased adiposity early in life is the main risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders later in life, with the abnormal accumulation of lipids in AT leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Inflammatory process that involves metabolic and card...

Background: Over the last decade, and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a substantial increase in the use of digital health tools to track growth and manage growth disorders in children. Paediatric endocrinologists acknowledge the usefulness of these tools in clinical decision making but lack confidence and skills to use them. Atique et al. designed a Massive Open Online Learning Course (MOOC) to increase digital health literacy, and identified...

Introduction: Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder caused by the lack of expression of genes on the paternally inherited chromosome 15q11.2-q13 region. Clinical picture of PWS changes across life stages. PWS is characterized by endocrine abnormalities, such as growth hormone (GH) deficiency, obesity, central adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, and complex behavioural and intellectual difficulties. The recombinant human growt...

Background: Glucocorticoids regulate a broad spectrum of physiologic functions essential for life and exert their actions through their ubiquitously expressed glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The GR interacts with several molecules, including the non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 (Gas5), which decreases the transcriptional activity of the GR by preventing its binding to DNA, and reduces tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids.Objective and Hypotheses: T...

Background: Consultations for infantile hypercalcaemia have increased at Sydney Children’s Hospital since guidelines for vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy were introduced in 2006. Recent nationwide shortages of low-calcium formula (LCF) suggest this problem may be widespread.Aim: To determine if infantile hypercalcaemia is occurring more commonly, identify potential aetiologies and clinical significance.Me...

Introduction: Published studies on pubertal growth of SGA patients on GH therapy are scarce. An earlier and shorter duration of puberty has been described. Treatment optimization may be necessary and also know their influence on adult height.Objetives: Analyse the evolution of height durig puberty in SGA patients treated with GH. Asses the age of onset of puberty and its relationship to adult and target height.Methods: Retrospectiv...

Background: Little data exist regarding the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and the interplay between the HPA axis and markers of pro- and anti-oxidation in children, following an acute aerobic exercise bout in children.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the changes of HPA axis hormones following an acute bout of aerobic exercise and their respective association with markers of pro- and anti- oxidation in normal weight and obes...

Background: Fatty liver disease in children and adolescents is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in many countries. Criteria for a diagnosis of pediatric metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are based on hepatic steatosis in ultrasound, blood biomarkers or liver biopsy in association with one of the three criteria: excess adiposity (overweight, obesity or abdominal obesity), prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, or evidence of metabolic dysr...