ESPE Abstracts

Background: For many patients with high-risk cancers, allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) is the only curative option. A major risk of SCT is acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD). About 50% of SCT patients develop aGVHD as a part of their course. Glucocorticoids are the mainstay of therapy in aGVHD patients. Of the patients that develop aGVHD, about 50% develop a steroid refractory/resistant form. These patients tend to require higher doses of steroids and many will requi...

Introduction: People’s weight-related behaviors may be influenced by their personal social network (SN), notably via family and friends’ behavioral modelling and motivational social support (SS).Objective: We examined the cross-sectional relation between social network-based social support (SS) and weight-related outcomes among adolescents ina pilot study within the QUALITY cohort, a longitudinal study investigating the natural...

Objectives: Current safety data do not indicate an association of GH therapy with increased risk for development/progression of tumours, or worsening of congenital cardiac conditions in individuals with Noonan syndrome (NS); however, data are limited. This report describes real-world safety data on GH therapy in paediatric patients with NS.Methods: Two complementary non-interventional, multicentre studies, NordiNet IOS (NCT00960128) and ANSWER Program (N...

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: Insulin resistance occurs in a variety of common endocrine disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, rare syndromes exist that result in extreme insulin resistance. These conditions help contribute to our knowledge of the mechanisms of insulin signalling and resistance.Objective and hypotheses: We report a case of a 12 year old female presenting to endocrinology clinic for...

Background: Upon excessive expansion, adipose tissue is infiltrated by macrophages and shows increased production of inflammatory cytokines. This chronic low grade inflammation of adipose tissue is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. A supplementation with resveratrol can reverse the metabolic disturbances of human obesity, in part by mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.Objective and Hypotheses: We hypothesized that the beneficia...

Background: Bone mass is low in obese children when measured by conventional techniques. However, these imaging modalities cannot quantify alterations in bone microstructure and strength. High resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT – isotropic voxel size 82 mm) provides the resolution required to determine 3-dimensional in-vivo bone microstructure; microfinite element (microFE) analysis of HRpQCT images provides insight into skeletal biome...

Background: Poor temperature regulation in Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) suggests dysautonomia probably secondary to hypothalamic dysfunction. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) has control over orexigenic ghrelin.Objective and hypotheses: We aim to assess ANS function in PWS and its association with acyl ghrelin.Method: We recruited 16 genetically-confirmed children with PWS and 16 controls. Exclusion criteria were diabetes mellitu...

Background: The effect of maternal obesity and the associated maternal inflammation on neonatal and paediatric health and wellbeing over the early childhood years is not fully understood.Objective and hypotheses: This study aimed to determine the impact of maternal and fetal inflammatory factors on infant anthropometric measurements.Method: 265 mother–infant pairs from an RCT assessing the effect of a low glycaemic index diet ...

Background: Pituitary gigantism is a rare condition that occurs due to excessive GH secretion during childhood, usually associated with a pituitary adenoma. We describe a case that required the full spectrum of standard therapeutic options available.Case report: A 15-year-old boy presented with a 3-year history of intractable occipital headaches and being psychologically distressed by his tall stature (203 cm). He had mild clinical features of GH excess....