ESPE Abstracts

Background: Primary Addison’s disease (AD) is a rare endocrine condition, with reduced or absent secretion of adrenal hormones. Steroid replacement therapy normalizes endocrine assess and the quality of life. More than a half of patients display additional autoimmune conditions, which represent a considerable clinical concern.Objective and hypotheses: Antiparietal cells antibodies (APC-Ab) are commonly found in patients with autoimmune Addison’...

Background: Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is the most frequent acquired thyroid disease in childhood and adolescence. However it can evolve silently also for a long period, without signs and/or symptoms evocative of the diagnosis.Objective and hypotheses: A late diagnosis can reduce growth velocity, increase weight and particularly BMI, with an increased risk of obesity in pubertal age.Method: We analyzed 39 patients (age: 11.3±3...

Background: Genes in the HLA region confer about 50% of the genetic risk of type 1 diabetes (T1DM). More than 40 different genes give a minor contribution to T1DM risk, some of them are related to the immune function.Case presentation: A girl was referred at the age of 9 months with severe ketoacidosis in T1DM at onset. Anti-insulin autoantibodies were positive. She was the only daughter of unrelated Caucasian parents, born at term by vaginal delivery. T...

Background: SHOX deficiency is a frequent cause of short stature. GH therapy has been approved for growth promotion in individuals with SHOX mutations by FDA and EMEA.Case report: Three patients with Leri-Weill syndrome (LWS) started GH therapy at different chronological ages (CA). Patient 1 started GH+LHRHa at the CA of 13.4 years, height 148.4 cm (−1.5 S.D.), Tanner stage 4, bone age (BA) 13 years. Target height (TH) 160.5 cm (&#87...

Background: Pubertal timing is influenced by a complex interaction among genetic, nutritional, environmental and socioeconomic factors. Over the past 30 years a trend in pubertal timing anticipation has been demonstrated. Environmental factors involved in this phenomenon are mainly represented by endocrine disruptors compounds (EDCs), such as pesticides, industrial compounds and persistent organic pollutants, estrogens and phytoestrogens.Objective and hy...

Introduction: Endocrinopathies are common features of intracranial germ cell tumours (IC-GCTs), either as presenting symptoms caused by tumour itself or as side effects of treatments.Aims: We examined the development of endocrine dysfunctions in a cohort of paediatric patients with IC-GCTs at diagnosis and during follow up.Methods: We collected clinical, radiological, histopathological and hormonal...

Introduction: Delays in diagnosis of IC-GCTs in the paediatric age have been frequently reported, affecting outcomes and prognosis.Aims: This study analysed clinical features of children with IC-GCTs treated at two European tertiary centres in the last 25 years. We retrospectively reviewed time lag between symptoms onset, radiological findings and definitive diagnosis of IC-GCT.Methods: Presenting ...

Introduction: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an inherited auto-inflammatory disorder still extremely underdiagnosed in the Mediterranean area. The disease is secondary to a gain of function mutation of the MEFV gene, classically defined as “autosomal recessive”, with possible symptoms also in heterozygous patients. The mutation induces a hyperexpression of IL-1 beta and a chronic inflammation. Clinical manifestations are characterized by rec...

Introduction: Paediatric brain tumours in the sellar-suprasellar region (SSR) are often associated with central diabetes insipidus (CDI), either at diagnosis caused by the tumour itself or during follow-up as consequence of treatments.Aims: To define the timing of CDI onset and radiological features on brain MRI in our cohort.Methods: We retrospectively analysed paediatric patients...

Background: There are two liquid formulations of Levothyroxine currently in use in Italy: one containing ethanol (Tirosint®) and the other ethanol-free (Tifactor®). The aim of our study is to compare the two liquid formulations of Levothyroxine in the first six months of treatment in newborns affected by Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH).Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 156 patients treated with the ethanol-cont...