ESPE Abstracts

Obesity is increasing, and the related complications are well known. Clinical Trials related with specific diets are currently lacking in paediatrics. There is an increasing interest in Mediterranean diet (MD). The Med4Youth European study* has enrolled 240, 13- to 16-year-old subjects with a BMI above the 90th percentile(WHO curves) in a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Italy, Spain and Portugal) to evaluate the effects of MD. We present the data relative to the 80 su...

Background: Nowadays, the role of minipuberty in influencing pubertal development is well documented. Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with reproductive toxic effect. Aim of this study is to assess phthalate exposure within the first months of life in a cohort of healthy term infants and their mothers and the possible relationship with minipuberty.Methods: Sin...

Background: Hypopituitarism is a rare condition characterized by the insufficiency of 2 and more hormones produced by anterior pituitary gland. The major causes of hypopituitarism are brain tumors located near or in the pituitary gland and/or hypothalamus, cranial radiation, chemo- or surgical therapy, cranial traumas, neuroinfections, autoimmune hypophysitis (immune-mediated inflammation of pituitary gland) etc. Brain tumors are the second most frequent type ...

Handling diabetes at a very early age is difficult, even more when a complementary diet has not yet started. There is increasing evidence supporting the use of CSII in infants but some tricks could be useful.Infant 1: 10 mo, admitted in cardiac arrest. ROSC after 3 minutes, severe DKA (pH 6,95). Transferred to PICU, received also plasma transfusions. Day 2: CGM Dexcom G6 was started and tests for pancreatic autoimmunity and genetic of ne...

Introduction: Ectopic posterior pituitary (EPP) is a radiological diagnosis likely caused by a migration defect that occurs during pituitary development. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and hormonal deficiencies seen in patients with EPP.Method: Longitudinal observational study performed in a single [HK1] [NM2] centre from 1993-2020. As per MRI findings, cases were divided into three cohorts 1) C1: EPP on...

Background: Few studies have described the phenotypic spectrum of Septo-Optic Dysplasia (SOD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the range of H-P structural abnormalities and the endocrine morbidity of children with SOD and related disorders.Methods: Retrospective longitudinal single centre study of children with SOD (n:171), Multiple Pituitary Hormone Deficiency (MPHD) (n:53) and Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) (n:35).<p class="ab...

Background: Growth Hormone (GH) plays an important role in linear growth and in bone turnover during childhood. GH deficiency (GHD) may cause secondary osteoporosis associated to low bone mineral density (BMD), impairment of bone turnover and increased fracture rate. The effects of treatment with recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) on bone metabolism are controversial. We aimed to assess BMD using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) among a cohort of children with GHD ...

Background: Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is an important cause of hypopituitarism, although less common than multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). Children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) are at risk of hormone and neurocognitive disturbances.Objective and Hypotheses: We describe clinical and neuroradiological findings of these three overlapping conditions, aiming to understand their pathophysiology.Method: Retrospective a...

Background and objective: Children with Thickened pituitary stalk (TPS) and/or Idiopathic central diabetes insipidus (ICDI) present to different (endocrine, oncology, and ophthalmology) specialists. Their rarity, absence of agreed radiological criteria or consensus guidance, make their management problematic. Biopsy is too dangerous and cases may remain undiagnosed or evolve over decades. We aimed: i) to longitudinally characterize a large childhood cohort presenting with TPS ...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) in adults has been consistently associated with increased adiposity and decreased lean mass. Data in childhood are still scanty and the most appropriate tools to assess body composition in these children remain to be established.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the effects of GHD and GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on body composition in GHD children and make a comparison between DXA and anthropometric measures in evalu...