ESPE Abstracts

Background: Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have an increased risk of developing optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) during childhood. Although these tumors usually have a benign course, some cases result in significant clinical symptoms, including endocrinological disorders.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study is to evaluate the endocrinological complications of OPGs involving the chiasm in children with NF1.Metho...

Background: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) genetics is highly heterogeneous. The massive use of NGS identified at least 21 desease causing genes. Not fully understood inheritance mechanism, incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity explain the complexity of phenotype-genotype correlations. To further complicate the scenario, the co-occurence of more than one desease-causing genes variants can geopardize the phenotype. Herein, we report the heterogeneous...

Aim: To identify the distinctive features of GH Deficiency (GHD) and to assess the response to GH treatment (rhGH) in children with Septo-Optic-dysplasia (SOD) and Multiple Pituitary Hormone Deficiencies (MPHD).Methods: Retrospective longitudinal single centre study of children with SOD (n:171) and MPHD (n:53). GHD was diagnosed in patients with growth failure by an insufficient GH response (≤6.7 μg/l) to provocation (Insulin Induced Hypoglyca...

Background: Children with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and related disorders can present with either hypogonadotropic hypogonadism or precocious puberty. This phenotypic variability remains unexplained.Objective and hypotheses: To compare pubertal characteristics of SOD with isolated congenital hypopituitarism (CPHD) and optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH).Method: Retrospective longitudinal data collection from 259 patients with: SOD (...

Background: i.v. Pamidronate (PAM) has been used in the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and is known to increase bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce the incidence of fractures. However an attractive alternative is the more potent i.v. Zoledronic acid (ZOL).Objective and hypotheses: To determine the clinical efficacy of i.v. PAM vs ZOL in children with mild to moderate OI and compare the cost benefits of the two drugs.Me...

Background: Throughout 2020 telemedicine was rapidly deployed across health services and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, replaced many face-to-face (FTF) medical consultations. Children and young people (CYP) with diabetes present a unique opportunity for this type of consultation, due to the ability to interpret and share glucose data via other platforms. This study describes both CYP and parent experience of a new telemedicine service for CYP with diabetes.</...

Methods: A retrospective analysis of children with T1DM attending the Paediatric-diabetes service in an inner-city hospital. We included CYPD with paired values of hospital-measured BMI and HbA1C during 2 periods covering pre and post-lockdown (January-June 2020 versus November2020-April 2021). Children without paired values were excluded. HbA1C is expressed in DCCT% units. BMI calculated in absolute values, given the short study period....

Background: Turner Syndrome (TS) is commonly complicated by otological problems, of which middle ear infections, conductive and sensorineural hearing losses are most frequent. Middle ear infection and hearing loss, isolated or in combination, have putative roles in balance disturbance and may be related to the increased fracture risk exhibited in TS in adulthood. Our aim was to both establish the prevalence of balance problems in TS during childhood and explor...

Introduction:Up to 20% of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) develops low-grade optic pathway gliomas(OPGs) that can result in neuroendocrinopathy.The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors for developing neuroendocrinopathies in patients with NF1 and OPGs before any treatment.Methods: Records of 117 children with NF1 and OPGs followed at 4 Italian centers between 1997-20...

Background: Children with familial forms of central diabetes insipidus (CDI) display polyuria and polydipsia within the first years of life.Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesize that children with an early-onset idiopathic CDI might be affected by de novo genetic mutations.Method: Eleven children aged between 1 month and 7 years with polyuria and polydipsia and negative family history were enrolled. In nine of them with...