ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: An extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant is defined as one with a birth weight of less than 1000 g. This study evaluated the postnatal growth of infants born with ELBW for 3 years.Method: Anthropometric measures (z scores) from birth, 2,4.6,12,18,24, and 36 months were measured in 87 randomly selected infants who were born with a birth weight below 1 kg (between 9-2016 and 9-2018). Their anthropometric d...

Background: Extra Uterine Growth Restriction (EUGR) represents a serious comorbidity in infants born very low birth weight (VLBW). In fact, failure in postnatal growth and malnutrition at vulnerable ages can interfere with growth recovery and neurodevelopment at older ages.Hypothesis: Aim of the study was to assess whether and how the postnatal early growth patterns of VLBW may affect later growth, spontaneous motility a...

Background: Short stature occurs in both Trisomy 21 and Turner syndrome. This unusual case has a de novo mutation of 47,X,del(X)(p22.3),+21 with clinical features of both syndromes. Growth assessment data and investigations was previously discussed in ESPE2016.Case: Following growth assessment due to parental concern that her short stature was too short for either syndrome and a falling height velocity of 3.5 cm/year at 2.8 years, the decision was made t...

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a male genetic disorder defined by the karyo type 47,XXY. Adult males with KS are at increased risk for osteoporosis, based on androgen deficiency. Androgen replacement is standard in adolescent and adults with KS, but has not been used earlier in childhood. We performed a clinical trial to study the effects of childhood, low-dose androgen replacement on bone density in boys with KS.Objective and hypotheses: To me...

Introduction: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is characterized by severe neonatal hypotonia and feeding difficulty with subsequent hyperphagia, hypogonadism, and short stature. PWS has a prevalence of 1 in 10,000-30,000. Obesity-related complications occur from early childhood onwards. Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog that reduces appetite and body weight and improves glycemic control. Scarcity of oxytocin-producing neurons in the hypothalam...

ISS is a condition in which the height of the individual is more than 2SD below the corresponding mean height for a given age, sex, and population, in whom no identifiable disorder is present. At presentation, some of these children have relatively low IGF-I levels which theoretically can affect their response to GH therapy. The question is: does GH treatment of these children improve their linear growth compared to no treatment?Aim: We ...

Introduction: The low-dose synacthen test (LDT) is widely used to assess central adrenal insufficiency (CAI); however, the total serum cortisol (C) cut-off value is controversial. A correct diagnosis of CAI is required, but overdiagnosis may lead to unnecessary hormone replacement therapy. Salivary cortisol (SC) reflects the levels of free serum cortisol and is a noninvasive alternative.Objective: To define a new cut-off value of serum cortisol in pediat...

Background: One of the main concerns in patients with growth disorders is to achieve optimal adherence to growth hormone (GH) treatment. For this it is important to identify patients with low adherence to treatment and to evaluate actions to improve it.The Merck Patient Support Program (PSP) carried out educational actions aimed at patients with low adherence and their parents, to raise their awareness of the importance of good adherence...

Background: Estrogen replacement is a treatment of choice for pubertal induction in adolescent girls with ovarian failure due to Turner syndrome (TS). Recently published data show, that prepubertal low dose estrogen replacement is more physiologic, and can optimize response to growth hormone treatment, pubertal timing, and improve cognition. The metabolic effects of such treatment regimen have not been fully investigated to date.Objective and hypotheses:...

Introduction: Recombinant Growth Hormone (GH) has changed the lives of many patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). GH treatment has beneficial effects on body composition, physical performance, cognition, psychomotor development, respiratory function and quality of life of patients with PWS. Due to the narrow therapeutic range, GH treatment is subject to strict limits. Clinicians measure serum immunoreactive Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 ('total IGF-I&#...