ESPE Abstracts

Background: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare condition caused by an inadequate production of glucocorticoids. Preliminary data in adults suggest that AI could be associated with an increased susceptibility to infections; moreover, AI patients are at risk to develop a severe course of infectious diseases and to experience a life-threatening adrenal crisis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the severity and the outcome of COVID-19 in pediatric AI patients ...

Background: Severe congenital growth hormone deficiency (cGHD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Even though random growth hormone (GH) can confirm cGHD during the first week of life, the diagnosis remains extremely challenging in the absence of reliable reference values in healthy neonates and thus of a best diagnostic cut-off.Aims: First, to provide solid reference values for GH concentrations in te...

Mutations in genes of the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway have been shown to cause several syndromes characterized by dysmorphic features, growth retardation, cognitive impairment, heart disease and cutaneous abnormalities. The GHrh treatment has been used to improve growth in children with Noonan syndrome.Material and methods: 201 cases of patients referred with clinical suspicion of S. Noonan and other RASopathies was studied. Analysis of ...

Background: At present few data have clearly showed an increased frequency of idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) in females during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of environmental factors is not fully understood and various hypotheses have been formulated.Aims of the study: To evaluate retrospectively the incidence of newly diagnosed CPP and other pubertal disorders (Premature thelarche, early puberty, fast pube...

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...

Objective: To evaluate the impact of gestational age and birthweight on dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA and DHEA-S) in children born very preterm (VPT) appropriate for gestational age (GA) compared to children born at term (T).Methods: We recorded anthropometric parameters in 72 VPT (<32 GA) and 41 T (≥ 38 GA) aged 5.0–8.5 years. Birthweight standard deviation scores (BW-SDS) were calculated using INTERGROWT...

Background: Osteoporosis is a complex disorder, influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Primary osteoporosis is a rare early onset disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to be involved in the regulation of bone remodeling.Case: Native Argentinean boy born from a consanguineous family with history of retinal detachment in the maternal line. Delivered at term, birth weight 2900 g (−0.95 SDS), bi...

Background: The C3 epimer of 25-hydroxi-vitamin D3 (Epi25OHD3) is present in the pediatric and adult population and varies according to age. If it measurement is clinically relevant and should be considered to classify Vitamin D status is still unknown.Objective: To measure 25OHD3, 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D2 (25OHD2) and Epi25OHD3 and to compare them with PTH and calcemia.Method: Subjects: Children between 5 and 8 years of age born very...

Background: Very preterm neonates are at risk for metabolic syndrome later in life. Our objective was to compare anthropometric measures and insulin resistance variables between children who were born very preterm (VPT, <32 gestational weeks) and term (T, >37 gestational weeks), and adequate for gestational age (AGA).Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study we recruited 113 children 5.0 to 8.5 years old from the preterm clinic of our institu...

Background: Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) have familial aggregation and frequently share a common genetic background, but few studies have evaluated autoimmune clusters in children with AIDs and their families.Objective and hypotheses: To identify clusters of AIDs in children and their first-degree relatives.Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in subjects with an AID of pediatric onset (<18 years) recruited at Pediatric ...