ESPE Abstracts

Background: Screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with the possibility of an early treatment has transformed the outlook for children with CH. Despite the unquestioned public health success of newborn screening programs, the management of CH is still controversial. Most patients with positive screening have permanent hypothyroidism but some of them may have transient hyperthyreotropinemia, so it is important to identify these patients in order to avoid lifelong unnecess...

Background: Numerous studies have shown that GH, in addition to promoting linear growth, exerts a key role in many metabolic processes. However, there are only few studies aiming at evaluating the metabolic panel of children with GH deficiency (GHD). The aims of the study were: to verify the presence of metabolic alterations in GHD children in comparison with age-matched controls and to check the possible effects of 2 year GH therapy on the metabolic parameters in GHD.<p c...

Background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in childhood may present with either euthyroidism (52.1% of cases), or primary overt hypothyroidism (22.2%), subclinical hypothyroidism (19.2%), overt hyperthyroidism (3.5%), or subclinical hyperthyroidism (3%). In a large series of 608 children and adolescents with presenting HT, we found in no cases a biochemical picture with low free thyroxine (FT4) and normal or low-normal TSH serum levels, i.e. a thyroid pattern tha...

Background: Only few studies have focused on neurosensory hearing function of patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) identified by CH screening programs and treated early and, therefore, this issue remains still controversial.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study was to ascertain whether an early and adequate replacement treatment may be able to prevent sensorineural hearing loss in 32 screened children with CH and no associated risk fact...

Background: Hypothyroidism may be also a rare cause of acquired hypoceruloplasminemia. It has recently been underlined a role for thyroid hormone in the normal developmental regulation of ceruloplasmin (cp).Case presentation: A 3-year-old Caucasian girl was admitted to our clinic for recurrent pericarditis, fatigue and muscle weakness. Her family history was remarkable for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves disease. Her recent personal history was s...

Background: Vitamin D is now recognised as a prohormone, essential for the maintenance of mineral homeostasis, calcium metabolism and normal skeletal architecture. 30 ng/ml or greater can be considered sufficient serum levels. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among severely obese children is almost 49% caused by the fact that it is sequestered in the larger body pool of fat of such individuals, being vitamin D fat soluble. Vitamin D deficiency has been recently associate...

Background: First line treatment for an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma is transsphenoidal resection (TSR) of the tumor. Treatment options for patients with recurrent or persistent disease after surgery include another TSR, medical management, bilateral adrenalectomy, radiosurgery, or a combination of these. Radiosurgery represents a potentially curative treatment option for patients with recurrent or persistent disease.Case presentation: A boy was diag...

Background: Children affected by cerebral palsy (CP) could experience central precocious puberty (CPP) 20 times more than general population. Nevertheless, the treatment is challenging.Objective and hypotheses: To compare CPP features and the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy (GnRHa) in children with CP and in controls.Method: The study involved 16 children with CPP and CP (median age (range) at diagnosis of...

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common condition that occurs in ~1:3000–4000 live births and is one of the most common preventable cause of mental retardation with an early diagnosis and prompt pharmacological treatment. Neonatal screening has abolished this disease but 10% of children originally diagnosed with CH will have a transient form of the disorder and this percentage is increased during the last years due to a lowering of cut-off.<p class="abs...

Introduction: Transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH) refers to a temporary deficiency of thyroid hormone identified after birth, with low thyroxine (T4) and elevated thyrotropin (TSH). Approximately 17%-40% of children diagnosed with CH by newborn screening (NBS), have transient hypothyroidism. Levo-thyroxine (L-T4) early treatment is recommended at the dose 10-15 µg/kg/day. Children with thyroid gland in situ should be re-evaluated after the ...