ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: In the last years, the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) has increased in children, contributing to raise the risk of future cardiovascular disease. It is known that family history, pregnancy characteristics and type of feeding in the first months of life are of great importance in the prevention of diseases in the offspring. In this study we aimed to investigate the association between early life risk factors and HBP in children and adolescents.<p clas...

Background: Prevalence and severity of obesity and associated comorbidities are increasing in adolescents. Data on neck and upper arm (UA) circumference in addition to established anthropometric measures to define cardiometabolic risk are limited to date.Methods: Data from Phase I of the EU-funded PreSTART-study (trial registration number NCT02545140) was applied. Demographic, clinical, biochemical and lifestyle data were collected in adolescent...

Aggrecan (ACAN) is the major proteoglycan in the articular cartilage, critical for the structure and function of growth plate cartilage.Case Report: 11-year-old (y) boy admitted at 1.8 y of chronological age (CA), due to poor growth rate Height (H): 76 cm (−2.75 SDS). Initial physical examination: mild dysmorphic features and prepubertal external genitalia (two scrotal testes, 1 cc volume each). Neurologic maturation was normal. Initial bo...

Context: The early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis during infancy can be used in the evaluation of infants suspected of disorders of sex development (DSD). However, few data exists on sex-specific reference ranges for these hormones during early life.Objective: To evaluate sex-differences in reproductive hormone concentrations in serum from healthy infants in order to define sex-specific cut-off values and to apply these in infants ...

Background: Obesity is a persistent disorder that almost universally recurs following treatment, suggesting a disruption on central nervous system control over energy homeostasis. Recent literature suggests that hypothalamic inflammation may have an important role on obesity pathogenesis. This inflammatory reaction, which histologically appears as a reactive gliosis, may be detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and has just been shown in rodent models and adults.</p...

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and increasing evidence suggests a genetic origin. Premature activation of the GnRH secretion in CPP may arise either from gain-of-function mutations of the KISS1 and KISS1R genes or loss-of-function manner mutations of the MKRN3 gene leading to MKRN3 deficiency.Objective and hypotheses: To identify loss-of-...

Background: An increasing need for non-invasive, out-patient based investigations has necessitated a re-evaluation of urinary gonadotrophins (uGn) for assessing puberty.Objective: Prospective evaluation of the relationship between first morning uGn measured by immunoassay and corrected for creatinine (uLH:uCr; uFSH:uCr), and basal serum gonadotropins (sLH, sFSH) and in response to LHRH stimulation test. Prospective evaluation of uGn trend in patients rec...

Background: In adult women, serum levels of AMH reflect both the number of small growing follicles and remaining primordial follicles. AMH levels range 15 fold between healthy girls. Interpretation of AMH is contentious due to minor intra-individual changes around time of pubertal onset despite continuous loss of primordial follicles.Objective and Hypotheses: To describe ovarian morphology (volume, follicles) in healthy girls and adolescents in relation ...

Background: VRS-317, a novel fusion protein of rhGH, was safe and well tolerated in single dose studies of adults and children with growth harmone deficiency (GHD).Objectives: Conduct a 6-month study to determine the safety, tolerability, height velocity and IGF1 response in GHD children.Methods: 64 subjects were randomized into three arms to evaluate monthly, semi-monthly and weekly dosing.Results: At VRS-31...

Background: The bone mass deficit in pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) is associated with low total body lean mass and suppression of bone turnover.Objective and hypotheses: We examined at diagnosis whether the sarcopenia is associated with leg muscle hypofunction, changes in tibia muscle–bone indices as well as overt bone strength loss (vertebral fractures, VF).Method: 70% children with CD were studied within 2 weeks of dia...