ESPE Abstracts

Background: Bone growth and mineralization during childhood are now recognized as important for bone health in adulthood, leading to renewed interest in identifying modifiable factors that impact bone mineral density (BMD) in childhood. Emerging data suggest that duration of breastfeeding may affect BMD in later childhood and adult life. However, such data are sparse and inconsistent.Objectives: This study examined the relationship betwe...

Background: Growth patterns in infancy and early childhood have been linked to risks of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders in adulthood. Body fat partitioning, particularly increased fat accumulation at ectopic sites, has been strongly associated with cardiometabolic disorders. However, the lack of precise body composition measures in prior longitudinal birth-cohort studies has made it difficult to ascertain if early growth patterns could result in consolidation of distinct...

Three patients from two unrelated families in Malta; one consanguineous (siblings: Patient 1, male and Patient 2, female) and one non-consanguineous (Patient 3, male), manifested hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with delayed puberty, intellectual disability, scoliosis, and ataxia with cerebellar hypoplasia on MRI. GnRH tests revealed low peak LH and FSH concentrations in the patients: Patient 1; LH 2.3 IU/L, FSH 4.4 IU/L (14.3y), Patient 2; LH 3.6 IU/L, FSH 6.4 IU/L (12.5y), Pati...

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been suggested to slow down estrogen-dependent skeletal maturation in pubertal boys with short stature. In the literature, few studies evaluate the efficacy and safety of AIs in boys with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Objective: To evaluate the auxologic effects and short-term laboratory profiles of combined AI and rhGH therapy in adolescent males with GHD.Subjects and Methods:</stro...

Background: The short synacthen test (SST) is a popular diagnostic investigation for adrenal insufficiency (AI). Cannulation and blood sampling are required making it invasive, time-consuming and resource-intensive. Salivary cortisol is a well-established alternative to serum sampling.Objective and Hypotheses: To develop a non-invasive alternative to the 1 μg SST, using a novel formulation of Synacthen (with a nasal drug enhancer, chitosan) given na...

Background: Obesity in adults is closely associated with an increased prevalence of thyroid gland (TG) pathology, but thyropathy formation issues among children are not sufficiently studied.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the prevalence and structure of TG pathology in children with obesity by gender and degree of puberty.Method: In 121 patients 6–16 years old with obesity a thyropathy detection was conducted (diffuse n...

Background: Growth deficiency is a common symptom of many genetic syndromes. 13q deletion is a very rare genetic syndrome described in almost 200 cases. Growth reduction is a constant symptom along with mental retardation, congenital defects varying according to the deleted region of chromosome 13.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this paper was to present the case of a 12 year old patient with an interstitial deletion 13q (22.3–31.1), important ...

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is exclusively synthesised by thyroid tissue and a potentially useful aid to diagnosis in congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, its role has yet to be fully evaluated.Objective: To examine the sensitivity and specificity of Tg in helping define the etiology of CH.Patients and methods: Tg was measured in a single laboratory by Immulite 2000 chemiluminescent immunometric assay (CVs 9.8, 5.7 and 5.7% ...

Introduction: Primary brain tumors are the second most common childhood malignancies, with an increasing survival rate over the years. Late effects on puberty and fertility alter survivors’ quality of life.Methods: We included 204 patients diagnosed with a primary brain tumor before 18 years, followed in pediatric endocrinology at the University Hospital “Necker-Enfants Malades” in Paris between January 20...

Introduction: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The most common cause of PAI is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), but other well-established aetiologies include metabolic and autoimmune disorders, and physical damage. Mutations in more than 30 genes have now been associated with PAI, with considerable biochemical and phenotypic overlap. It is therefore importan...