ESPE Abstracts

Background: Crohn’s disease is a relapsing systemic inflammatory disorder with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNFα. More than 80% of newly diagnosed children present with growth failure Paediatric gastroenterology units in the UK submit data to the UK IBD database which can be accessed when required. One aim of current treatment protocols is to promote growth. Studies on the use of anti-TNFα antibodi...

Background: Disruption of homeostatic functioning of the hypothalamic centres results in hyperphagia, autonomic imbalance, reduction of energy expenditure, and hyperinsulinemia. A syndrome of rapid, unrelenting weight gain is often observed in patients with structural lesions of the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic obesity syndrome (HOS) is often refractory to standard dietary and lifestyle interventions. It has been reported that metformin induces anorectic effects via an increase ...

Background: Silver–Russell syndrome (SRS; OMIM 180860) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous low birthweight syndrome characterised by poor postnatal growth and a number of variable dysmorphic features. Small-for-gestational age infants in general have an increased risk of metabolic complications, some initially occurring in late childhood and adolescence.Objective and hypotheses: To identify i) response to GH based on genotype and ii) devel...

Background: Giant cell granulomas (GCG) are uncommon bony lesions that most commonly affect the maxilla and mandible; whilst generally benign they can be disfiguring to the face. Historically, GCGs have been treated with steroids or bisphosphonates to try and avoid surgical resection. Over recent years denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody which acts against the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, has been shown to be effective in treating GC...

Background: Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumors (SLCT) account only for 1% of all ovarian neoplasia, occur more commonly in the second or third decade of life and seldom secrete tumor markers. The experience in adolescence is limited.Objective and hypothesis: To report the hormonal and biological profile of a SCLT in a young adolescent. Ovarian tumor markers as well as FDG-PET scanning might be helpful in diagnosing ovarian malignancy in case of normal ultrasound...

Background: Rathke’s cleft cyst (RCC) is a benign, sellar or suprasellar lesion arising from the remnants of Rathke’s pouch that have failed to disappear in the normal development of the embryo. Patients with RCCs are mostly asymptomatic but can also exhibit various symptoms related to pituitary insufficiency. With increasing interest on endocrinology disorders of children or adolescents, the prevalence of RCCs is also on the rise. However, the studies on children or...

Introduction: Salivary androgens represent a non-invasive marker of puberty that may have utility in population studies as well as in the clinical arena.Objectives: To establish normal reference values of salivary androgens using LC-MS/MS and demonstrate the correlations between salivary androgens and pubertal development in boys.Methods: School-based adolescent cohort study with t...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy usually requires daily subcutaneous (s.c.) injections that can be burdensome for patients and their caregivers. Long-acting GH formulations aim to establish a less burdensome dosing regimen that is as safe and efficacious as daily GH to potentially improve adherence and clinical outcomes. Somapacitan, a long-acting reversible albumin-binding GH derivative, is in development for once-weekly s.c. administration...

Background: Mounting evidence points to an association between increased glucocorticoid (GC) action and weight gain. However, the response to GCs is not only determined by GC serum concentrations, but also by individual differences in tissue-specific sensitivity, influenced by genetic and acquired (e.g. disease-related) factors. The extent to which differences in GC sensitivity may influence development of (abdominal) obesity, or vice versa, is poorly understo...

Background: The need to understand the relationship between bone, muscle, and fat within the bone-muscle unit has recently gained great prominence. Although high resolution (HR) MRI is a non-invasive imaging modality that can provide this information, there is limited expertise in children and young people.Objectives: To establish MRI-based normative data for bone, bone marrow adiposity and muscle adiposity in children a...