ESPE Abstracts

Background: It had never been investigated to now whether the course of thyroid function in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) may differ in the children who had presented with either euthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism (SH).Objective and hypotheses: To establish, by means of a 5-year prospective evaluation of 234 children with HT and no prognostic risk factors, whether thyroid status evolution over time may be conditioned by the biochemical patter...

Background: A high risk of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has been documented in multiple pregnancies. Over the years special screening procedures for preterm and twin babies (re-screening at 2–4 weeks of life) have been adopted by many screening laboratories worldwide. However, no extensive studies have been performed to verify how many co-twins with negative test at first screening (3–5 days of life) become positive at re-screening, and the utility of a long-term f...

Background: Neonatal screening strategies revealed an increase in hypothyroidism associated with an in-situ thyroid gland due to TSH receptor (TSHR) mutations. While there are many genetic and functional studies regarding TSHR mutations, few are found concerning the clinical course and long-term outcome of TSH resistance involving the pediatric population.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the impact of TSHR mutations on clinical course, biochemical ...

Background: Thyroid dysgenesis has been considered a sporadic disease, but recent observations suggested a possible genetic basis.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our report is to evaluate the incidence of hormonal and ultrasound thyroid anomalies in siblings of CH patients with thyroid dysgenesis.Method: In Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) 328 CH infants were diagnosed by neonatal screening between January 2000 and December 2012....

Background: We want to know the clinical presentation and genetic mutation of congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) patients in our country.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the clinical outcomes and gene mutations related to CHI in our patients.Method: We studied the therapeutic outcomes of 95 cases of CHI and analyzed the associations between gene mutations and clinical features in 55 cases.Results: Among...

Background: The benefits of levothyroxine (L-T4) therapy in subjects with mild SH (TSH between 5 and 10 mU/l with normal FT4 values) are controversial. Current recommendations in adults suggest to start on treatment selected groups of subjects with mild SH and evidence of atherosclerotic CV disease. Data in children are lacking.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the effect of L-T4 treat...

Background: The impact of prematurity on skeletal health later in life is not well elucidated.Objective and hypotheses: In order to address this topic we evaluated bone mass in ex-preterm (PT) and born at term (BT) prepubertal children and potential risk factors for bone health.Method: DXA measures of total body less head and lumbar spine mineral density (TB/L1-L4 BMD, g/cm2 and z-score), bone mineral content (T...

Background: Several metabolic abnormalities, including unfavourable lipid profile, impaired cardiac performance, muscle strength and endurance capacity have been documented in GH Deficiency (GHD) adults. Alterations in cardiac morphology and left ventricular function and early markers of cardiovascular risk have been also detected in GHD children; however, no studies have so far investigated the effects of GHD on physical performance and right ventricular (RV) function in chil...

Background: Controversial data exist on the possibility that inhaled glucocorticoids (IGs) affect growth in children with mild-to-moderate asthma. The majority of these studies are short-term reports lacking long-term assessment until the achievement of final height (FH).Objectives: To assess whether IGs affect growth and FH in asthmatic children compared to controls.Methods: 113 asthmatic (57/56 (males/females)) were compared to 6...

Background: Studies examining vitamin D levels in association with childhood obesity usually do not concurrently measure levels of vitamin D-binding protein and do not calculate the unbound, bioavailable vitamin D, that is considered the fraction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D able to exert biological activity.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate in a group of children for the most part obese i) the concentrations of both total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and of the bi...