ESPE Abstracts

Background: Hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) deficiencies are frequent in childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) after cranial radiation. There is currently no consensus on the most optimal way to screen for HP dysfunction regarding diagnostic tests or time interval. It is not known whether MRI changes in time in the HP-region or in brain volume are predictive of HP dysfunction.Aim: To quantify changes in the HP-region and in brain volume on MRI in CBTS after...

Introduction: Monitoring steroid hormone levels of children with endocrine disorders, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and disorders of sex development (DSD), can be challenging. Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling can be helpful for these patients. DBS sampling is less invasive, easier to sample, and simpler to transport and store compared to venous blood sampling. Additionally, DBS sampling can be done at home at any time of the day, thus improving p...

Rationale: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major complication of preterm birth, which pathophysiology involves systematic inflammation. Preterm infants commonly suffer from relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in their first week of life, resulting in an insufficient production of cortisol inappropriate for the degree of inflammation. One of the major causes of RAI is immaturity of adrenal cortex enzymes, leading to an accumulation of cortisol precursors...

Background: In mammals, maternal glucocorticoids are transmitted through breast milk, particularly under stressful circumstances. In humans, it is unclear whether milk cortisol levels are dependent on stressful perinatal circumstances, such as preterm birth.Objective and hypotheses: Our aim was to compare cortisol concentrations in breast milk of mothers of very preterm infants (GA <32 weeks) to breast milk cortisol concentrations of mothers of full-...

Introduction: The identification of obese patients with increased susceptibility and risk for glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes requires an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Reference values for Body mass index (BMI) and Tri-Ponderal mass index (TMI) according to age and sex of healthy children in Spain without malnutrition or obesity have recently been published (*). TMI values remain very uniform in both boys and girls from the age of 8 to 18 years, ...

Background: It is well known that endocrine comorbidities occur frequently in children with cancer, especially in those with a brain tumor. In those children, increased intracranial pressure or hydrocephalus may lead to central precocious puberty. Furthermore, chemotherapy, especially alkylating agents, increases the risk for gonadal insufficiency. In this case series we describe 3 young girls with a brain tumor, who develop premature gonadotrophic activation,...

Background: Growth hormone therapy can be indicated for children who are born small for gestation age (SGA) (either birth weight or birth height < -2 SDS) without catch-up growth (height < -2.5 SDS) at age 4 years. Growth hormone therapy is considered a safe treatment.Case presentation: A 12-year-old girl was referred to the pediatric endocrinologist for short stature. She was born small for gestational age (birth ...

Background: Pseudoisodicentric X chromosomes with an Xq deletion (46,X,idic(Xq)) are rare. Most cases are mosaic, the other cell line being 45,X. Nonmosaicism is rare. Phenotype is characterized by the resultant of the X deletion. Variations from short to tall stature can occur and premature ovarian failure is a common feature.Case presentation: A 16 year old girl was referred to our clinic with primary amenorrhoea. She ...

Introduction: Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency results in impaired synthesis of gluco- and often also of mineralocorticoids. Early treatment with glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids prevents life-threatening crises. In some centres, additional salt is prescribed in the first year. However, until now the use of salt is controversial and not proved to result in better outcome in studies.<s...

Objective: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) to assess patency of the Fallopian tubes with the use of iodinated (oil- or water-based) contrast media is a standard test during fertility work-up. An observational study found an increased risk of congenital hypothyroidism in neonates whose mothers were exposed to high amounts of oil-based contrast during HSG. Oil-based contrast contains more iodine (480mg Iodine/ml) than water-based contrast (250mg Iodine/ml). We inves...