ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome (RSTS)is a rare multiple congenital anomaly syndrome with a prevalence of 1:100,000 to 1:125,000. It is classically characterized by postnatal growth deficiency, microcephaly, learning difficulties, increased risk of tumour formation, broad thumbs and halluces and dysmorphic facial features including highly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes, downslanting palpebral fissures, broad nasal bridge, beaked nose, high arched palate and characteri...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is one of the common causes of hypoglycaemia in infants and children. It can cause severe brain injury in children if not treated promptly. Diazoxide is first-line treatment for HH. Glucagon infusion is used in the management of children with HH. However it is unclear what dose of glucagon should be used in children.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of intraven...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a common cause of hypoglycaemia in children. Glucagon is an important counter-regulatory hormone and the role of somatostatin is not known in children with HH.Objective and hypotheses: To understand the roles of glucagon and somatostatin in children with HH.Method: Children admitted for management of HH in our hospital were included in the study. Plasma insulin, glucagon and somat...

Background: Several previous publications have documented the usefulness of Nifedipine for treating hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HI). These reports include transient and persistent forms of HI, with and without known genetics, used in monotherapy or in combination with other drugs, and demonstrate various outcomes.Objective and hypotheses: To systematically trial Nifedipine in children with known HI mutations and diazoxide unresponsive, assessing gly...

Background: Costello syndrome may be associated with Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia (HI), but this is usually a mild medically-responsive form.Objective and hypotheses: To describe the clinical characteristics, biochemical findings and challenging management of a case of Costello syndrome with severe HI.Method: Review of the patient’s medical records.Results: Male, born to non-consanguineous healthy par...

Background: Treatment adherence to daily subcutaneous rhGH is a burden for GHD patients, with noncompliance reported in up to 77% of patients and significantly associated with reduced efficacy (Rosenfeld Endocr Pract 2008; Cutfield PLoS One 2011). Somavaratan, a novel rhGH fusion protein with t1/2 >100 h, demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in height velocity and IGF-I in prepubertal children with GH deficiency (GHD) in a multicenter, randomized, Pha...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) causes severe hypoglycaemia in children, due to dysregulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Glucagon, secreted from the pancreatic α-cells, is critical for blood glucose homeostasis. Somatostatin is secreted by Δ-cells of the islets and by extraislet neuroendocrine cells. Exogenous somatostatin potently inhibits insulin and glucagon release from pancreatic islets. Under normal physiological conditions, low...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycaemia in the neonatal period, characterized by unregulated insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells. In addition to medical therapy, frequent feeding to prevent hypoglycaemia is one of the most important aspects in the management of CHI.Objective and hypotheses: To identify the number of patients with CHI who have associated feeding difficulties and determine ...

Background: Secondary pseudohypoaldosteronism presents with hyponatremia and hyperkalemia due to a transient aldosterone resistance.Objective and hypotheses: We recommend a check of urea and electrolytes in all infants with urinary tract infection, dehydration and failure to thrive.Method: A 5 month old presented with a day’s history of poor feeding and two episodes of vomiting. He was afebrile with normal observations. His ur...

Background: Neonatal diabetes can present from birth to six months of age. This can often be confused with sepsis as there is considerable overlap of symptoms in this age group as illustrated below.Objective and hypotheses: The cases described illustrate the importance of blood glucose monitoring in sick infants presenting to emergency care settings we recommend an initial check of blood glucose concentrations in all sick infants who present to Accident ...