ESPE Abstracts

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the response to GH therapy have previously been identified in growth hormone deficient (GHD) children in the PREDICT long-term follow-up (LTFU) study (NCT00699855).Objective and hypotheses: To assess the effect of GHD severity on the predictive value of genetic markers of growth response.Method: We used pre-pubertal GHD children (peak GH <10 μg/l) from the ...

Background: In selected cohorts, a genetic cause is found in up to 40% of children presenting with severe short stature (height <-3 SDS) and 30% with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). Since 2020, to inform diagnosis and tailor management, three NHS England genomic laboratory hubs (GLHs) have offered clinicians access to gene panels as part of routine care for short stature: R147 ‘Growth failure in early childhood’ (e...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) is classically defined on the basis of a cut-off applied to the peak GH level during stimulation tests; a process with recognised limitations. Identifying the functional role of genes whose expression is associated with pGH may help with our understanding and classification of GHD.Objective and hypotheses: Identify patterns of gene expression (GE) related to pGH and to describe the function, and regulation of these genes.<...

Background: Current data from genome wide association studies (GWAS) explains 24.6% of the variation in adult height from 3290 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)1. Data on the genetic control of growth velocity during childhood is more limited and no previous studies have linked childhood growth to changes in the transcriptome (gene expression) or epigenome (DNA methylation). Here we present a systems biology approach to understand mid-child...

Background: Prediction of response to recombinant GH (r-GH) is currently based on regression modelling. This approach generates a prediction equation which can be applied to data from an individual child. However this method can underestimate the effect of inter-dependent variables. Random forest classification (RFC) is an alternative prediction method based on decision trees that is not sensitive to the relationships between variables.Objective and hypo...

Background: Gonadal dysfunction and fertility impairment are some of the many clinical manifestations described among patients with Fanconi anemia (FA). Many who receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) suffer additionally from infertility due to gonadal damage from their preparative regimen. The effect of HSCT on gonadal insufficiency and fertility potential among children with FA is largely unknown.Methods:</stron...

Introduction: Patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) require life long glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. In CAH, the adverse effect of GC on bone health (BH) may be counteracted by the effect of modest elevations in adrenal androgens.Aim: To examine relationships between BH index (BHI) SDS, calculated by BoneXpert on bone age (BA) x-rays, BA, hydrocortisone (HC) dose (mg/m2 per day), and mean 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentratio...

Background: Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) abnormalities are considered as early signs of peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We investigated which determinants NCV is subject to and how it is related to markers of metabolic control.Methods: We included 51 patients treated at the outpatient clinic of paediatric diabetology because of their type 1 DM and randomly assigned them for a nerve condu...

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is associated with long-term health problems. However, little is known about co-morbidities and their onset in children and young persons (CYP).Objective: To establish the health status of CYP with CAH across the United Kingdom.Methods: A multi-centre prospective study recruited 102 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency targeting...

Growth hormone (GH) is commonly used during childhood to treat short stature in Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS), but final height and long-term body mass index (BMI) data are limited.Objective: To evaluate height and BMI in older individuals with molecularly confirmed SRS and compare those previously treated with GH to those untreated.Methods: Growth data on individuals aged ≥13 years with SRS were evaluated from UK, French and...