ESPE Abstracts

Objective: Osteogenesis imperfecta is an inherited disorder characterised by bone fragility. Antiresorptive treatment with bisphosphonates is a well-established first line medical treatment in OI types III/IV. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on treatment modalities, like which bisphosphonate to use in which dose and when to initiate treatment. The objective of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a one-year treatment period with bisphosphona...

Background: Based on growth screening rules, severe short stature (i.e. height SDS less than -3), at the age of more than 3 years, warrants diagnostic evaluation in specialized health care. In the absence of apparent underlying cause, targeted and eventually untargeted genetic studies have been proposed. However, the etiology of short stature at the severe end of the spectrum is poorly characterized.Methods: We ...

Background: We describe the incidence, etiologies and clinical features of combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) in pediatric patients from a single tertiary center.Methods: The cohort comprised of patients with CPHD, treated in the Helsinki University Hospital between 1985 and 2018. They were identified through an ICD-9/ICD-10 code search, and the clinical data were recorded from the patient charts.<p class="...

Background: Hypercalcaemia in infants may reach extreme levels due to hyperparathyroidism, subcutaneous fat necrosis, or vitamin D intoxication. Normal values for p-parathyroid hormone and p-calcitriol prompt search for other causes.Methods: Hospital file evaluation, case report.Results: A 5½-months-old Caucasian girl of non-consanguineous healthy parents was referred due to w...

Background: Currently, data on the diagnostic yield of targeted gene panels using next generation sequencing (NGS) in children with short stature of undefined aetiology (SSUA) are limited. EPIGROW (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00710307) was a prospective European epidemio-genetic study in which a targeted NGS panel including 69 genes associated with short stature (e.g. primordial growth disorders and skeletal dysplasias) was performed in 263 patients and 263 controls. In these pat...

Adrenocortical tumours are a rare disease in the paediatric population, with a higher prevalence in children under 5 years. The aetiology is partially known; in some cases it is related to mutations in the tumour suppressor gene p53 (TP 53). The classical symptoms of the Cushing syndrome are not usually present in children, so we should suspect this disease in children and teenagers with obesity or with slow growth velocity.Methods: We report a case of a...

Introduction: Delayed or absent puberty is thought to be common in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).Objective: To evaluate testicular development, function and puberty in DMD in a 12 months prospective longitudinal study.Methods: Thirty-four boys had assessment of puberty and testes volume by a single endocrinologist. Testes volumes were converted to Z-scores adjusted for bone age. Boys were divided into group A [Baselin...

Background: Main features of the autosomal dominant form of GH deficiency (IGHD II) include markedly reduced secretion of GH combined with low concentrations of IGF-I leading to short stature.Objective and hypotheses: We report on a girl referred for assessment of short stature (−4.6 SDS) at a chronological age of 7 yr 10 mo. The GH deficiency was confirmed by standard GH provocation tests, which revealed severely reduced GH and IGF-I concentration...

Background: The low-dose short Synacthen test is a popular diagnostic test of adrenal insufficiency in children. It is employed by 82% of UK paediatric endocrinologists. Although various dosing strategies exist, 1 μg is most commonly employed, however none of the low-dose forms are commercially available. A BSPED survey revealed 14 different methods for diluting 250 μg/ml ampoules.Objective and hypotheses: Do various dilution strategies result ...

Background: Cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1 gene) catalyses the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in steroidogenic cells, the first step in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones. SCC deficiency has been established as an autosomal recessive disorder caused by inactivating homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the CYP11A1 gene, with a wide phenotypic spectrum ranging from prematurity, complete underandrogenization and severe early-onset...