ESPE Abstracts

Background and aims. In several European countries, the incidence of primary congenital hypothyroidism (PCH) seems to increase in the last decade, especially in countries that have lowered the newborn screening TSH cutoff. In Flanders, two centers manage since 2012 the newborn screening for PCH and these maintained the same TSH assay (Delphia, Perkin Elmer) and cutoff (15 mU/l). We studied the current incidence and etiology of PCH and initiation of thyroxine treatment in Fland...

Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI) is primarily associated with defects in the regulated release of insulin from ß-cells but little information is available about the role of other islet cell types. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells represent a minor component of the islet endocrine cell population. PP causes satiety, decreases gastrointestinal tract motility and suppresses glucagon release. Since CHI is associated with feeding problems and loss of glucagon-mediated counter...

Background: Bone and body composition data in Achondroplasia (Ach) treated or not with vosorotide are lacking.Aim: To assess longitudinally body composition and bone markers in children with Ach during Vosorotide treatment (V-Tx).Method: Twenty-one patients (F=11, M=10) underwent DXA evaluation before (T0) and after 12 months of V-Tx (T12): bone mineral density-BMD (g/cm2</sup...

Aldosterone synthase deficiency (ASD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by inactivating mutation in the CYP11B2 gene, usually presenting with severe salt-wasting in infancy or stress-induced hyperkalaemia and postural hypotension in adulthood. ASD is unable to be detected by Neonatal screening of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, hence patients would not be diagnosed until they suffer from salt-wasting crisis. Due to this potentially life-threatening risk, early detection and...

Introduction: Preclinical models demonstrated that Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL-4) regulates lipid metabolism and affects energy homeostasis. However, no data exist regarding its involvement in childhood and adolescence, periods of life with important metabolic changes.Objectives: We aimed to investigate circulating levels of ANGPTL-4 in children and adolescents and its relationship with gender, puberty and obesit...

Background: Recurrence of craniopharyngiomas influences mortality. Apart from the extent of surgical resection, few clinical parameters have been consistently shown to be associated with recurrence. Radical resection is difficult due to infiltration of surrounding tissue and unacceptable morbidity. Predictors of recurrence are therefore needed.Aim: To establish a multinational cohort of patients with craniopharyngioma an...

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...

Background: Extra Uterine Growth Restriction (EUGR) represents a serious comorbidity in infants born very low birth weight (VLBW). In fact, failure in postnatal growth and malnutrition at vulnerable ages can interfere with growth recovery and neurodevelopment at older ages.Hypothesis: Aim of the study was to assess whether and how the postnatal early growth patterns of VLBW may affect later growth, spontaneous motility a...

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is defined as the secondary sexual characteristics onset before 8 years of age in females and before 9 in males, due to premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The underlying cause remains idiopathic in the great majority; based on the 2009 Consensus, 2% to 7% of girls who have onset of CPP between the ages of 6 and 8 years have unsuspected pathology and only 1% have a tumor such...

Background: Reports on obesity, high blood pressure and reduced insulin sensitivity in children with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) indicate an increased cardiovascular risk.Objective and Hypotheses: To evaluate potential mechanisms, we analysed various parameters of the carbohydrate metabolism in children and adolescents with CAH.Method: Out of 86 patients with classical CAH, n=41 (21 m, 20 f; ages: 6.9&#1...