ESPE Abstracts

Background: There is a small proportion of children born SGA without postnatal catch-up growth who are presented with persistent short stature, low BMI, and decreased lean body mass (LBM). Data on body composition are rarely reported in the literature. Our study addresses the question whether human recombinant GH treatment could affect body composition in these SGA children or not.Design: We included 58 SGA children (n=20 females) with SGA (birt...

Introduction: The metabolically healthy obese phenotype (MHOF) defines obese patients who have preserved insulin sensitivity and who do not have metabolic complications: lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Recent studies indicate that TMI (kg/m3) estimates the percentage of body fat more accurately than the BMI and it has been proposed to substitute the use of the BMI z-score values by those of the TMI. TMI values ...

Introduction: Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is the most frequent cause of persistent hypoglycaemia in neonates and infants. The most severe forms of HH are inherited and referred to as Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI). Hypoglycaemia is the main feature of CHI, and early diagnosis and immediate management are essential to reduce the high risk of neurological damage. Diazoxide is the mainstay of medical treatment, with surgery being an option in appropriate cases.<p cl...

Background: Up to 20% of infants referred on newborn congenital hypothyroidism (CH) screening are subsequently shown to have transient TSH elevation rather than permanent CH. Correct identification of such cases is important to avoid prolonged treatment with thyroxine and unnecessary clinic attendance.Objective: To determine the prevalence, trends and profile of infants with transient TSH elevation referred between August 1979 and December 2015 by the Sc...

Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is characterised by the immune destruction of the adrenal cortex and leads to impaired production of the adrenal hormones. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that can be managed if identified early. The onset is insidious and often difficult to diagnose. Screening for adrenal autoantibodies is routinely performed in autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The guidance around the...

Introduction: Pubertal suppression with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue is introduced after the onset of puberty in adolescents with gender dysphoria (GD). As puberty is a critical period for bone accrual and changes in body composition, alterations in body composition and bone mass may be observed during treatment.Methods: Thirty-eight adolescents (32/38 assigned females at birth) with GD had dual energy...

Background: Vertebral fractures (VF) are recognised as an important aspect of bone health in children and adolescents, yet most of them are not clinically apparent. The clinical utility of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for vertebral morphometry has not been evaluated in the paediatric population.Method: VFA was performed independently by two non-radiologist observers in 110 patients (52M/58F) as part of ...

Background: Bisphosphonate therapy (BPT) reduces osteoclast activity and may be associated with adynamic bone turnover. The extent of suppression of bone turnover and its determinants are unclear.Method: Markers of bone metabolism were evaluated in 15 children (9M/6F) undergoing BPT for osteoporosis. The median age at first biochemical assessment was 10.8 years (0.16, 16.3). Serum type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX), alkaline phosphatase (AL...

Background: With improvements in assays and an increasing need for non-invasive out-patient based investigations, there is a renewed interest in the use of urinary gonadotrophins (uGn) for assessing pubertal progress.Objective and hypotheses: This study aims to establish the correlation between serum and urinary LH and FSH in patients with pubertal concerns.Method: 36 boys and girls aged 14.9 years (range 7.8–17.3) and 9.5 yea...

Background: In children undergoing investigation of testicular function the relationship between serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and the testosterone response to hCG stimulation test (HST) is unclear.Method: 75 children (3F, 72M) with a median age of 1.08 years (range, 0.003, 14.3) were investigated for suspected DSD by AMH on D1 and testosterone on D1 and D4, before and after 3-day HST. Of these children, 27 had an additional prolonged HST. Normal te...