ESPE Abstracts

Background: The diagnosis of GHD in children is based on auxological, biochemical, neuro-radiological, and genetic tests. Biochemical tests include evaluation of stimulated GH secretion and baseline IGF-1 determination. Although IGF-1 is the most reliable indicator of GH action, its value should always be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical and biochemical parameters. Since IGF-1 has good specificity (about 90%), but low sensitivity (about 70%), nor...

Background: National and international guidelines recommend thyrotropin (TSH) determination as the most sensitive test for detecting primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in newborn screening programs. A strategy of a second screening at 2 weeks of age, or 2 weeks after the first screening was carried out, is also recommended in preterm, LBW and VLBW neonates, twins, neonates admitted in NICU, and babies with specimen collection within the first 24 hours of life [1–3]. H...

Objectives: Assess the dose of levothyroxine in relation to TSH and FT4 levels at diagnosis of AHT in children with SH and OH.Methods: Eighty eight children (69 girls) with AHT were devised in regard with TSH and FT4 at diagnosis [SH-FT4 >0.9 ng/dl: Group 1: TSH: 4.5-7 mU/l, Group 2: TSH: 7-10 mU/l, Group 3: TSH: >10 mU/l and OH: Group 4: TSH>10 mU/l and FT4 ≤0.9 ng/dl]. Mean L-T4 dose was reported in μgr/Kg per day at diagnosis an...

Background: Low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test (LDST) is widely used to assess patients for adrenal insufficiency. However, the predictive power of basal cortisol for the performance of LDST is not clear.Objective: To determine the appropriate basal serum cortisol cutt-off values that predict a positive or negative LDST.Design: A single-centre retrospective study...

Background: Neonatal screening is a preventive strategy for various endocrine, metabolic and genetic conditions. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common preventable and treatable causes of intellectual disability, and delayed diagnosis can lead to disastrous consequences. Incidence of CH is1:3000-1:4000 neonates worldwide but data varies globally. Pakistan lacks a national newborn screening programme for any inherited disease, but Aga Khan Uni...

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) caused by DUOX2 deficiency has a wide range of clinical presentations and phenotype-genotype correlations are not always straightforward.Objective: To describe four children from Quebec with biallelic DUOX2 variants and widely variable phenotypes.Design/Methods: Case series of four children seen for evaluation of thyroid function at the endocrinology service of two university hospitals in ...

Background: Since the initiation of neonatal screening programs for Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) in the 1970’s, a gradual decrease of TSH cut-off limits has been observed worldwide. Nevertheless, lack of universal consensus has led to wide variation of cut-off limits and LT4 therapy criteria among screening programs, even within the same country. The Greek neonatal CH screening program is carried out by a single laboratory that uses one of the lowest cut-off limits worl...

Background: The term Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) describes children with subnormal thyroid hormone levels present at birth. According to literature, CH has an incidence of ~1:1500–1:3000 births with a clear predominance of females (female:male ratio 2:1) and is mainly caused by thyroid dysgenesis (80%). Low FT4 levels have been used as important criteria for CH diagnosis and treatment initiation. The Greek neonatal CH screening program has followed the TSH cut-off lowe...

Objectives: Assess thyroid volume in relation to TSH and FT4 at diagnosis of AHT and 2.9 years of follow up in children with SH or OH.Methods: wo hundred one children (155 girls) with AHT were divided according to TSH and FT4 levels [SH-FT4 >1.0 ng/dl: Group 1: TSH: 5-7.5 mU/l, Group 2: TSH: >7.5 mU/l, OH: Group 3: TSH>7.5 mU/l and FT4 ≤1.0ng/dl]. Mean L-T4 dose is reported in µg/Kg/day. Thyroid...

Background: Low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test (LDST) is commonly used for evaluating the adequacy of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis functions. However, there is still no standardization between protocols used in different centres.Objective: To contribute to the optimal time of highest cortisol response in the LDST in children.Design: A prospective study of L...