ESPE Abstracts

Introduction – Scope: Childhood cancer has an impact on the neurocognitive functions of growing children and adolescents. The aim of this study, which is the first of its kind in Greece, was to examine the differences in neurocognitive abilities between children and adolescents survivors of brain tumors (BT), and survivors of other types of cancer.Method: Study participants were cancer survivors aged 7 to 15 years,...

Background: To diagnose non classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) and adrenal insufficiency (AI), current guidelines recommend ACTH test. Cutoffs for 17 hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and cortisol are derived from immunoassays values. Thanks to a recently developed and validated mass spectrometry approach (LC-MS/MS) we routinely quantify simultaneously 16 circulating steroids and we are able to speculate on new cut off values and uses.<p class="abs...

Background: There is a direct relation between C-reactive protein and leukocyte count as indicators of inflammation. The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is the balance between both cells and is considered a marker of low-grade inflammation and an indicator of high risk of cardiovascular events. An elevated NLR is related with type 2 diabetes (T2D), however, even when in type 1 diabetes (T1D) there is an underlying inflammatory process, an elevation of circulating neutrophils...

Background: 25-OH vitamin D levels in newborns depend directly on their mother’s status. In a previous study, 25-OH vitamin D levels were determined in cord blood in a cohort of women after winter months, showing deficient values in 94% of population (mean 25-OH vitamin D value 10.4±6.1 ng/ml). Correlation between low 25-OH vitamin D levels and low sun exposure, dark skin phototype and Indo-Pakistani ethnicity were observed.Objective and hypoth...

Pediatric diabetes management extends beyond glycemic control. A gap between guidelines and actual care exists. Standardized performance measures represent a key strategy to improve quality of care. In Italy, a non-profit initiative of continuous monitoring and quality improvement of diabetes care is in place since 2018, promoted by the ISPEDCARD association and involving the Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and diabetology (ISPED). Aim of the present work is to report the ...

Aim: Few data are currently available on the reliability of the different anthropometric, instrumental and biochemical indexes in recognizing the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in severe childhood obesity. The objective of our study was to find out a simple and accurate index to use in deciding whether to initiate a search for MetS in this at-risk population.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study based on...

Context: Pituitary apoplexy is rare endocrine emergency, resulting from ischemia and/or hemorrhage and necrosis of a pituitary tumor (typically an adenoma). Children and adolescents show severe headache sometimes associated with cranial neuropathies from compression of the optic chiasm or the cavernous sinus.Case presentation: A 15-year-old boy was admitted with severe headache and vomiting since 3 days, without visual d...

Objective: There is no agreement about which index of adiposity and/or body composition is the most accurate in identifying the metabolic syndrome (METS). The aim of our study was to compare the accuracy of the different indexes in order to recognize the most reliable.Study Design: We evaluated 1332 obese children and adolescents (778 females and 554 males), aged 14.4 ± 1.8 yrs., Body Mass Index (BMI) standard devia...

Background: Pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP)-A2 is an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein (BP) protease that regulates IGF-1 availability, affecting postnatal growth. We have recently reported the first mutations in human PAPP-A2 causing short stature and changes in bone size and mineral density. However, the IGF system is involved in diverse physiological functions and to date it is unknown how mutations in PAPP-A2, which significantly reduce f...

Introduction: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare entity in childhood. It is characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure with normal neurological examination (except for possible paresis of the sixth cranial nerve), cerebrospinal fluid study and neuroimaging. The association between HII and treatment with growth hormone (GH) was first described in 1993 by the Food and Drug Administration and it has later been demonstrated. Incidence ...