ESPE Abstracts

Congenital adrenal insufficiency is a potentially life-threatening condition that can present soon after birth in many different ways. The classic presentation is a salt-losing crisis due to mineralocorticoid insufficiency, often between a week and two of life, but babies with predominant glucocorticoid insufficiency can present with other features such as prolonged jaundice, hypoglycaemia and hyperpigmentation. Most children with congenital adrenal insufficiency present to em...

Background: Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis activates soon after birth, and this ‘minipuberty’ provides a transient phase for evaluation of the function of the HPG axis in early infancy. Substantial differences in postnatal gonadotropin secretion have been reported between preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) boys and girls. Therefore, when evaluating gonadotropin levels in infants, time from birth (calendar age), maturity (postmenstrual, PM age) and s...

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: Primary IGF1 deficiency (PIGFD) is a rare disease defined by low IGF1 levels, GH sufficiency and absence of secondary causes of growth failure. Whereas some members of the GH–IGF axis have been shown to be implicated in the severe syndromic forms of PIGFD due to GH insensitivity, genetic causes of less severely affected patients are mostly unknown.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate fr...

Background: Hypothalamic obesity (HO), due to midline congenital malformations, genetic diseases or hypothalamo-hypophysis tumours, is severe and difficult to treat. Patients are scarcely compliant to diet and physical activity, for disabilities often affecting them. Drugs have been rarely employed.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of the study was to treat hypopituitaric children and adolescents affected by severe HO with a multidisciplinary approach includ...

Background: The central precocious puberty (CPP) diagnosis is usually based on clinical evaluation but in its soon phase this evaluation is difficult so laboratory confirmation is crucial.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluated the usefulness of the Leuprolide stimulation test as a diagnostic method of idiopathic CPP.Method: Sixty-one girls, aged 5–8 years, were evaluated retrospectivaly for premature breast development. Girls ...

Background: Many studies have shown that GH therapy can increase final height in children born SGA. Adult height and growth velocity can be improved in these subjects even if there is not a deficiency of endogenous GH (GHD).Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to analyze growth response after 1 year of GH treatment in children born SGA without GH deficiency.Method: Ten patients (six M, four F) born SGA (according to Gagliardi et ...

Background: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare inherited disease characterized by mineralocorticoid resistance with subsequent salt wasting, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and elevated plasma renin and aldosterone levels.Patients and methods: We report a male newborn that presented with failure to thrive and sustained hyponatremia during his early postnatal period. He was conceived after IVF (twin pregnancy) and prematurely born by cesare...

Background: Multiple anterior pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) may present in the newborn period or in early infancy with hypoglycemia, prolonged cholestatic jaundice micropenis, undescended testes due to GH, ACTH, and LH deficiency. Central hypothyroidism is becoming manifest later, less severe than primary hypothyroidism, usually without intellectual impairment. A male patient was admitted to our clinic with severe short stature at the age of 2 years, born with normal len...

Background: Hypoglycaemia precipitated by factitious insulin administration presents in a very similar way to hypoglycaemia caused by hyperinsulinism. It is difficult to ascertain clinically if the hypoglycaemia is secondary to exogenous administration or endogenous insulin secretion. Diagnosis is based on circumstantial evidence and biochemical tests which include insulin and C-peptide level.Objective and hypotheses: We would like to report a case of a ...