ESPE Abstracts

Previous studies have shown that poor adherence to recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH; Saizen®) therapy is associated with decreased efficacy outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Easypod™ is the only electronic injection device that enables continuous monitoring of adherence to treatment. Early recognition of non-adherence is essential in the management of long-term outcomes of r-hGH therapy. This analysis aimed to evaluate adherence to r-hGH therapy adminis...

Background: Small for gestational age (SGA) children who experience rapid and exaggerated postnatal catch-up are prone to develop insulin resistance and to progress faster into puberty, resulting in a shorter final height. Short, non-catch-up SGA children treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) may present with the same sequence. In a previous controlled study from our group performed in short SGA children, metformin – added to rhGH therapy – improved endocrine-meta...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) occurs due to different aetiologies, morphological abnormalities in pituitary, or mutations leading the individual to lose the genetic growth potential. The pituitary dysfunction can be as GHD alone or associated with other hormones deficiencies. Patients with abnormalities in pituitary may present a greater height loss than others and couldn’t reach the target height (TH) according to final height (FH).Objectives: To...

Background: A growth prediction model would not only allow patients with growth disorders the opportunity to see the expected effect of their recombinant human growth hormone (r hGH) treatment, but also support healthcare professionals to individualise treatment to optimise growth outcomes.Aim: To develop a growth prediction model in children with growth disorders.Patients and Methods: Height and c...

Background: Treatment for growth disorders requires daily injections of recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) over multiple years, and automated devices may help in this regard. The ability to adjust injection device settings, which are pre-set as default unless changed by healthcare professionals, may improve patient comfort and needle anxiety and thereby improve adherence.Aim: To study the association between inject...

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and bone alterations, probably due to lack of insulin and chronic hyperglycemia. Sclerostin and Dickkopfs-1 (DKK-1) are Wnt signaling inhibitors involved in bone remodelling.Objective and hypotheses: To assess serum levels of DKK-1 and sclerostin in T1DM children and adolescents on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or multiple daily therapy (MDI). We hypoth...

Background: Dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism is classically a monogenic disease with recessive inheritance. Thyroid dysgenesis showed a multigenic origin in a mouse model of double-heterozygous deletions of Nkx2.1/Pax8 transcription factor genes, suggesting a possible polygenic nature of certain cases of human hypothyroidism.Objective and Hypotheses: To investigate genetic traits of polygenic involvement in dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism,...

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is found in up to 50% of adolescents and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). High fracture risk has been described in adult PWS patients. This bone fragility could be due to inadequate gonadal hormones levels during pubertal development, and to relative growth hormone insufficiency during childhood and adolescence. However, the mechanism/s of low BMD in PWS have not been clarified.Objective and hypotheses: ...

Background: DCA 2000 is still a very popular device to determine HbA1c levels in diabetes practices through a finger stick. It allows clinicians to give immediate feedback to patients and to make changes in diabetes management during the three-monthly assessment.Objective and hypotheses: To compare HbA1c values measured with DCA 2000 with corresponding values measured with IFCC (considered as the reference method) in a single paediatric centre, to assess...

Background: Differential diagnosis between XY partial (PGD) and mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) was initially established by histological evaluation; however, when there is a 45,X lineage there are differences not only in clinical aspects but also in prognosis.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this work was to analyze clinical picture of patients with genital ambiguity due to testicular dysgenesis, with and without a 45,X lineage, and compare these con...