ESPE Abstracts

Background: Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a complex disease resulting from donor T-cell recognition of a genetic disparate recipient, which is unable to reject donor cells after allogeneic transplant. Glucocorticoids (steroids) are the mainstay of acute GVHD therapy. Glucocorticoid resistance has been characterized in several inflammatory conditions including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Glucoc...

Background: The management of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is still challenging in particular for mild forms with TSH levels ranging between 4.5 and 10 mU/L.Objective and hypotheses: to compare left ventricular (LV) geometry and function of SH subjects and matched euthyroid controls, and to evaluate the effect of L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy on cardiac parameters.Method: Thirty-six (36) children (19 females and 17 males), aged 8.6...

Background: Despite the metabolic syndrome in pediatrics is a well recognized entity, there is no unanimous consensus on exact value of MS to predict long-term cardiovascular risk. Hepatic Steatosis (HS) is another emerging condition associated to pediatric obesity.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the prevalence of MS in a large pediatric obese population, assess the relationship between MS and HS, and evaluating the possible role of HS in defining ...

Introduction: Endocan is a soluble dermatan sulfate PG (50kDa), composed by 165 amino acid core protein, that is expressed and secreted by endothelial cells of dermal microvasculature, coronary, pulmonary arteries, and capillaries from adipose tissue. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, inflammation, and neoangiogenesis. Endocan biosynthesis is upregulated by inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α,IL-1, TGF-β1, and by pro...

Background: Recent studies using data from the International Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Registry (www.i-cah.org) (1), have provided valuable insight into the determinants of reported acute adrenal insufficiency (AI) related adverse events, demonstrating that the I-CAH Registry can be used as a tool to create clinical benchmarks in CAH care.Methods: Care quality reports were created for 32 centres who participat...

Background: Vitamin D deficiency in children is a common cause of rickets, and a potential risk factor for extraskeletal adverse health outcomes. Its prevalence in Haiti has not been assessed.Objective and hypotheses: To examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in dark-skinned young children in Haiti.Method: Cross-sectional study of healthy Haitian children 9 months to 6 years across thr...

Background: During fetal development, the reproductive tissues of a male and female are initially identical until around 7 weeks of gestation. At this point, chromosomal sex dictates the development of a testis or ovary which in turn drives phenotypic sex of the individual. This involves a pre-programmed series of events which results in the differentiation of the indifferent reproductive tissues into sex-specific organs. The brain must also undergo sex-specific development wh...

Introduction: Previous studies showed that non-obese children and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have a low frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS), while obese ones have a frequency similar to that of non-PWS obese. It is known that individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) have a greater predisposition to the development of MetS. Recent neonatal percentiles of subjects with PWS (Salvatoni et al, Am J Med Genet Part A, 2019) documented...

Introduction: Gonadectomy may be indicated in people with differences or disorders of sex development (DSD). Based on historical data from the International-DSD (I-DSD) Registry that showed considerable practice variation, this I-DSD care quality improvement project seeks to determine, through prospective surveillance, the frequency of gonadectomy in individuals with DSD internationally.Methods: All existing I-DSD centre...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) occurs in one in 4000–one in 10 000 children, but can also be diagnosed in adults.1 GHD therapy typically requires injections over a period of years.2 Adherence to long-term GHT presents a challenge.Objective and hypotheses: This study describes the rates of adherence to GHT among patients with GHD.Method: Members who were continuously enrolled 6 months pre- and 12 months p...