ESPE Abstracts

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children is a common medical disorder, often associated with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy. The prevalence of OSAS has been increasing due to alarming rates of obesity in childhood. This is a very concerning subject since there is a higher risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with elevated BMI and OSAS.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study is to report a hazardous case regarding chi...

Background: The genetic background of idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) is not well understood. The genetic activation of pubertal onset is thought to arise from the effect of multiple genes. Familial ICPP have been reported suggesting the existence of monogenic causes of ICPP. The neurokinin B (NKB) system has recently been implicated in the regulation of the human reproductive axis, but how NKB system exerts its effects on the central neuroendocrine control of hum...

Background: The association of NF1 with optic pathway glioma (OPT) and GH hypersecretion was initially described in some isolated cases, while the presence of PP was more frequently reported in these patients. Association of gigantism and precocious puberty (PP) in five children with OPT (isolated in two and associated with NF1 in three cases) has been recently published.Aims: To evaluate the frequency of GH hypersecretion in children with NF1 and OPT, t...

Introduction: It is thought that sex hormone binding protein (SHBG) is involved in glucose homeostasis in addition to regulate the levels of sex hormones. Clinical studies associate reduced SHBG concentrations with insulin resistance (IR).Objective: To evaluate the relationship of SHBG with IR and hyperandrogenism markers in a group of adolescents affected with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and how weight could affect these markers.<p class="ab...

Background: Controversial data exist on the possibility that inhaled glucocorticoids (IGs) affect growth in children with mild-to-moderate asthma. The majority of these studies are short-term reports lacking long-term assessment until the achievement of final height (FH).Objectives: To assess whether IGs affect growth and FH in asthmatic children compared to controls.Methods: 113 asthmatic (57/56 (males/females)) were compared to 6...

Background: Obesity in Prader-Willi Syndrome has peculiar features associated to reduced lean body mass which could confer different metabolic characteristics.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study is to describe and to compare the metabolic profile in obese patients and obese Prader-Willi syndrome patients (OPWS) followed in a Pediatric Endocrinology outpatient clinic.Method: 45 obese and 22 OPWS patients between 8 and 20...

We present the case of a five-day female admitted to our Paediatric Unit due to TSH elevation (bTSH 303 mIU/L) on routine neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH). The patient was born at 38 weeks’ gestation by c-section presenting with adequate auxological parameters. Her mother suffered from Hashimoto’s disease, already diagnosed before pregnancy, and requiring Levo-thyroxine therapy (L-T4). Blood tests performed at five days of life revealed the pre...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report on the frequency and describe the clinical characteristics of the ones diagnosed as thyroid cancer among all suspicious nodules diagnosed in the pediatric endocrinology department and to compare the findings with recent published literature.Methods: Retrospective study during the last 5 years. Patients aged <18 years, with suspected thyroid nodule malignancy, according t...

Introduction: Increased frequency of Grave’s disease (GD) has been reported both in adults and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: To compare the frequency of GD prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Retrospective analysis of children diagnosed with GD over the last 13 years in our Department.Results: A total of 22 children (31.8% boys) with a mean age of 10.55...

Background: The increase of global childhood obesity has led to an increase of associated co-morbidities also at a young age. The pro-inflammatory state and insulin resistance are two master regulators of several complications, including hypertension and pre-diabetes frequently connected in a complex crosstalk.Aim: To evaluate the relationship between glucose alterations and blood pressure and the pathogenetic involvemen...