ESPE Abstracts

Background: In children undergoing investigation of testicular function the relationship between serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and the testosterone response to hCG stimulation test (HST) is unclear.Method: 75 children (3F, 72M) with a median age of 1.08 years (range, 0.003, 14.3) were investigated for suspected DSD by AMH on D1 and testosterone on D1 and D4, before and after 3-day HST. Of these children, 27 had an additional prolonged HST. Normal te...

Background: Otological problems in Turner syndrome (TS) are notoriously common and troublesome, often requiring intervention with adeno-tonsillectomy, insertion of ventilation tubes and occasionally resulting in serious disease such as cholesteatoma.Survey of otological problems in the West of Scotland: A case note review of 174 girls attending the Turner clinic in Glasgow, Scotland from 1989–2015 found that of 155 patients in whom data were availab...

Background: Girls with Turner syndrome (TS) are inappropriately short for their parents’ heights; measured parental height is therefore useful in diagnosis.Objective and hypotheses: To examine the sensitivity of measured parental height in the diagnosis of TS; and to audit the frequency of parental height measurement in our clinic.Method: Case note review of all girls with TS attending our dedicated Turner clinic between 1989&...

Introduction: Pubertal suppression with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue is introduced after the onset of puberty in adolescents with gender dysphoria (GD). As puberty is a critical period for bone accrual and changes in body composition, alterations in body composition and bone mass may be observed during treatment.Methods: Thirty-eight adolescents (32/38 assigned females at birth) with GD had dual energy...

Background: Vertebral fractures (VF) are recognised as an important aspect of bone health in children and adolescents, yet most of them are not clinically apparent. The clinical utility of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for vertebral morphometry has not been evaluated in the paediatric population.Method: VFA was performed independently by two non-radiologist observers in 110 patients (52M/58F) as part of ...

Background: Bisphosphonate therapy (BPT) reduces osteoclast activity and may be associated with adynamic bone turnover. The extent of suppression of bone turnover and its determinants are unclear.Method: Markers of bone metabolism were evaluated in 15 children (9M/6F) undergoing BPT for osteoporosis. The median age at first biochemical assessment was 10.8 years (0.16, 16.3). Serum type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX), alkaline phosphatase (AL...

Background: The predictive value of a random cortisol measurement in the neonatal population with suspected adrenal insufficiency is unknown.Objective and hypotheses: i) determine the indications for measuring cortisol; ii) review subsequent management; and iii) establish predictors for adrenal insufficiency.Method: A laboratory database search identified cortisol results in babies <1 year from three neonatal units between Sept...

Background: Screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has virtually eradicated the severe mental handicap associated with late or absent treatment. We have previously reported two audits of newborn screening for CH between 1979 and 2003 showing significant improvement from the first to more recent period.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to audit the period 2004–2013 and report trends in timing of sampling, laboratory processing, delay between f...

Objectives: Hearing loss and ENT problems are frequently seen in children with Achondroplasia. Current international consensus guidance recommends audiological assessment before the age of one year and thereafter in childhood in presence of speech delay, hearing difficulties or features of middle ear effusion. In January 2019, we began a programme of annual hearing screening for children with Achondroplasia residing in Glasgow who attend the Complex Bone Clini...

Background: Insulin Tolerance tests (ITT) have long been considered the gold standard for dynamic function testing of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Sub-optimal cortisol responses during an ITT in children may be found in children during ITT without a previous clinical suspicion of Adrenal insufficiency (AI). It is not clear what the clinical significance of this is and whether all of these children require formal synacthen testing.<p class=...