ESPE Abstracts

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta / Ehlers–Danlos (OI/EDS) overlap syndrome is a rare and recently described disorder of connective tissue, characterized by mutation of COL1A1 (17q21.33) or COL1A2 (7q21.3) genes, involved in alpha-1 and alpha-2 chains of type 1 collagen synthesis. Patients with OI/EDS overlap syndrome could show a phenotype characterized by features of both osteogenesis imperfecta (bone fragility, long bone fractures, blue sclerae, sho...

Introduction: Short stature is frequently caused by SHOX variants causing functional deficiency. SHOX resides in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR1) of the sex chromosomes and SHOX/enhancer alterations result in a broad phenotypic range: from Langer mesomelic dysplasia, Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis to idiopathic short stature (ISS). Growth hormone (GH) therapy is indicated for those individuals with short stature due to SHOXdeficiency. A frequent limitati...

Introduction: Bone fragility or predisposition to fractures with low-impact energy is a rare but potentially limiting condition. Variations in PLS3 gene are a cause of monogenic osteoporosis due to the alteration of osteoclast and osteocyte function and bone mineralization. It is characterized by early-onset osteoporosis, peripheral fractures, vertebral compression fractures and thoracic kyphosis. Due to its X-linked inheritance, the phenotype is more severe i...

Background: In 2003 recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) was approved by European Medicines Agency to treat short children born small for gestational age (SGA), but so far no study evaluated the prevalence of SGA children with short stature who qualify for rhGH treatment in Europe.Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of SGA and short stature in children born SGA and of SGA children who qualify for rhGH treatment ...

Objectives: To assess the long-term impact of prematurity on bone and body composition by using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).Methods: DXA scans were performed in 100 preterm (PT) (n=42F, n=58M, mean weeks’gestation 31.5±2.6; range 26−36) and 51 born at term (BT) healthy infants (n=28F, n=23M). DXA measures of total body and lumbar spine mineral density (TB/L1-L4 BMD, g/cm2 and Z...

Background: Apoptosis is a programmed sequence of events towards cell death. Blood vessels employ apoptosis for remodeling during development and to maintain homeostasis during adulthood. The atherosclerotic process begins in early childhood and is correlated with obesity and metabolic disorders.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the correlation of apoptotic marker Apo-1/Fas with children’s biochemical and anthropometric characteristics.<p...

Background: G6PD deficiency is conventionally affiliated with drug induced oxidative stress, but an association with diabetes mellitus is seldom reported. Hypertriglyceridemia from insulin deficiency can be the cause of severe pancreatitis complicating DKA in children.Case report: A 14-year-old Bulgarian boy, no significant past medical history, hospitalized in Pediatric Surgery Department for abdominal pain, hematemesis insorted during a cruise trip. Re...

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is defined as a group of disorders including diabetes mellitus, central obesity, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension.Aim: To investigate the role of lifestyle habits in correlation with MetSyn in children.Methods: In our research, 480 students, 6–12 years old, were participated living in Sparta–Greece. During 2011–2012, a specially designed questionnaire was used and anthropometric...

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used as flame retardants and have shown endocrine disruption properties in experimental studies. Preliminary studies in animal models have suggested a link between exposure to PBDE and alterations of puberty and reproduction.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the association between the exposure to PBDEs and alterations of puberty in girls, referred for idiopathic premature thelarche (IP...

Background: Elevated blood pressure (BP) may occur from childhood, increasing the risk for hypertension in adulthood.Aim: To investigate the effect of anthropometric characteristics and lifestyle habits in children’s and adolescents’ BP.Methods: 949 children (<12 years old) from Lakonia, 178 teenagers (12–18 years old) from Athens and 372 from Kalamata, Greece, had participated during 2011–2014. A specially ...