ESPE Abstracts

Background: Multiple external influences have proved to be of importance in auxology. Sub-group analysis can identify specific factors involved in normal children development.Objective and hypotheses: The main objective of the study was to identify differences in development in children born the same day from different parents. Our hypothesis was that there are identifiable general factors that predict the growth of a child.Method:...

Background: Growth standards are important tools in the monitoring of growth. In 2006 the World Health Organization (WHO) published new growth charts based on infants and young children living in optimal conditions in six countries and proposed that these and the NCHS data on North American children be accepted as standards for children in all countries throughout the world. Studies comparing country specific standards with WHO growth charts are therefore necessary.<p clas...

Introduction: Of any pituitary dysfunction following brain injury, growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) is the most prevalent. The cut-point for defining GHD has been placed at 7 ng/mL representing optimum test performance. We hypothesised this cut-off may be set too low for genetically taller children with acquired brain injury, notably brain tumours, who demonstrate severe growth failure but repeatedly fail to meet diagnostic thresholds for GH replacement until several centi...

Background: Premature adrenarche (PA) has been considered a benign condition. Recently, associations with an increased metabolic risk have arisen. This risk may depend on ethnic background and infancy weight gain, which could be different by gender.Objective and hypotheses: To determine whether PA in children at pubertal onset (TII) determines a higher metabolic profile.Methods: 1190 children (49.9% female) from the longitudinal co...

Background: The age limit for precocious puberty (PP) in girls is a topic that continues to be debated, and there is a new trend that supports the idea that the beginning of breast development in girls between ages 6 and 8 should not be accepted as true PP and it is necessary to label this clinical condition as accelerated puberty or early normal puberty.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the current study is to determine the diagnostic criteria for gi...

Introduction: Familial tall stature (FTS) is defined as height taller than +2 SD in a subject growing within his/her midparental height (MPH) with no apparent dysmorphic features. FTS is routinely not an indication for genetic investigation. However, some subtle dysmorphic features of various genetic disorders might be missed justifying the need for further investigation.Aims: To elucidate the genetic cause of FTS and to...

Background and aim: Menarche is a milestone of female pubertal development as well as an important sociocultural and psychological event during adolescence. Age of menarche has changed with time, and there is a broad individual variation in timing. Many factors are associated with menarcheal age, where further research is needed. The QEPS-growth model makes it possible to conduct detailed analyses of growth1,2. The aim of the study was to investigat...

Aims: To examine growth, body composition and glucose metabolism during childhood in children born small for gestational age (SGA).Methods: Single centre cohort study of 150 children (63 boys), identified from newborn records as being born SGA (birth weight SDS <−1.5) and assessed between the age of 4 and 7 years. Data collected included: anthropometric parameters (height, weight, BMI: transformed into age- and sex-adjusted SDS), lean and fat m...

Background: Late initiation of GH results in suboptimal adult height for many women with TS. In a landmark, randomized, controlled, clinical trial (“Toddler Turner” study) we showed that 2 y of early GH (ET group) started at 1.98±1.01 y, resulted in height SDS difference of 1.6±0.6 SDS vs. early untreated group (EUT).Objective and hypotheses: It was unclear if early height gains would result in taller adult heights, so patients were f...

Background: Premature adrenarche (PA) has been considered a benign condition. Recently, associations with increase androgen levels and PCOS have arisen.Objective: To determine whether PA in children at pubertal onset (TII) determines a different timing of pubertal events and a different pattern of ovarian and adrenal hormones.Methods: A total of 583 girls from the longitudinal cohort (Growth and Obesity Cohort Study, born 2002) wer...