ESPE Abstracts

Background: Prediction of response to recombinant GH (r-GH) is currently based on regression modelling. This approach generates a prediction equation which can be applied to data from an individual child. However this method can underestimate the effect of inter-dependent variables. Random forest classification (RFC) is an alternative prediction method based on decision trees that is not sensitive to the relationships between variables.Objective and hypo...

Background: Because the success rate of lifestyle interventions is modest in severely obese adolescents, surgical treatments are now proposed. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) represents an attractive treatment with minimal morbidity and reversible procedure.Method: All adolescents were included in prospective longitudinal assessment and entirely managed by a pediatric team. Surgery was proposed only after at least 1-year lifestyle interven...

Background: Acromegaly is a rare childhood disorder. The use of a growth hormone (GH) receptor antagonist, pegvisomant, has shown great results in adults with acromegaly. We describe results of pegvisomant therapy in two girls with invasive GH pituitary macroadenomas.Case presentation: Case 1: A somatotroph pituitary macroadenoma was diagnosed in a 8-year-old girl with progressive tall stature (height: 148 cm, >+3 S.D.; growth velocity...

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a paternal deficiency of maternally imprinted gene expression located in the chromosome 15q11-q13 region. Previous studies have demonstrated that several classes of neurodevelopmental disorders can be attributed to either over- or under-expression of specific genes that may lead to impairments in neuronal generation, differentiation, maturation and growth. Epigenetic chan...

The 1st lockdown from March to May 2020 probably led to an increase in the number of cases of idiopathic central precocious puberty in several European countries. Two Italian studies showed this, as well as a Spanish and a Turkish one. We performed a retrospective study with all the children who came to our department for a 1st appointment or a check-up for pubertal signs between 01/04/2017 and 31/03/2021. We checked the data of 765 files and kept only the children with a diag...

Gender dysphoria indicates a psychological distress due to any incongruence between biological sex and gender identity, while transgender identity refers to an individual, whose gender identity is the opposite of the biological sex. The number of gender dysphoric youth seeking hormonal care seems to rise worldwide. Therefore, numerous bioethical and medical controversies are raising about possible side effects of hormonal therapies, including interference with brain developmen...

Data on the birth parameters of patients with growth hormone deficiency are contradictory; recent studies suggest that congenital growth hormone deficiency is associated with impaired fetal growth. The main objective of this study was to describe the birth parameters of children with GH-1 gene deletion.This study included 13 patients (of 10 families) for whom a homozygous (or compound heterozygous) deletion of the entire GH1 gene has been identi...

Background: Vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) is the most common urologic abnormality seen in children. It represents the backflow of urine from bladder to upper urinary structures due to a defect in closure of uretero-vesical junction. This condition predisposes children to repetitive pyelonephritis associated with renal scarring.Objective: Studies are continuously searching for the potential effect of VUR on growth. We aimed to assess growth indices: height...

Background: Although metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) adults are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), little is known regarding MONW children.Objective and hypotheses: To characterize lifestyle habits and insulin dynamics of MONW children.Method: Caucasian youth (n=630) aged 8–10 years, with at least one obese biological parent, were studied (QUALITY cohort). We defined MONW c...

Background: Rathke’s cleft cysts (RCC) are benign lesions of the pituitary gland, remnants of Rathke’s pouch. RCC have rarely been reported in children and adolescents and are usually known as asymptomatic but some cases may be associated with hormonal disturbances.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to assess the characteristics and frequency of endocrine disturbances in children with RCC.Method: We retros...