Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Central hypothyroidism (CeH) is diagnosed when low thyrotropin (TSH) is associated with a free thyroxine (fT4) below the normal range. Jostel proposed a ’fT4-adjusted TSH’ (TSH index: TSHI = log TSH +0.1345 · fT4.), to estimate the degree of pituitary dysfunction (Jostel et al. Clin End 2009).Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients investigated for pituitary hormone deficiencies (n=276; M:F 166:...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) deficiency(GHD) in childhood is associated with impairment in linear growth. GH therapy enables the achievement of normal adult height in most cases. The response is variable and factors influencing height outcome are still not clearly defined.Objective: To evaluate near adult height (NAH) in a single center cohort of childhood onset GHD patients treated with GH and investigate main predictors of final height (FH).<p c...

Background: There is concern that adolescents with childhood-onset GHD (COGHD) and persistent GH deficiency may be exposed to multiple metabolic risks after GH treatment withdrawal at the attainment of final height (FH).Aim: Aim of our study is to retrospectively compare growth response and metabolic profile in isolated idiopathic COGHD adolescents with permanent GH deficiency in comparison to GHD subjects who normalized their GH response at transition p...

Background: Several studies have investigated the effects of GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on thyroid function in children with GH deficiency (GHD) leading to contrasting results. Indeed, GHRT has been reported to affect the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones, to alter TSH secretion by pituitary and to unmask secondary hypothyroidism.Objective: To evaluate long-term effects of GHRT on thyroid function in a large cohort of GHD children.<p class...

Introduction: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is characterized by serum TSH levels above the upper limit of the reference range, in the presence of normal serum concentrations of total T4 and free T4. Associ-ation between SH in childhood and adverse neurocognitive outcomes remains controversial.Objective: To evaluate the intellectual outcome of children with SH before and after 2 years of treatment with levothyroxine (L-T4).Methods...

Background: The management of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is still challenging in particular for mild forms with TSH levels ranging between 4.5 and 10 mU/L. Although SH in children seems to be a bening condition, ongoing scientific investigations have highlighted the presence of subtle proatherogenic abnormalities among children with modest elevations in their TSH levels. Data on cardiac performance in children with SH are still scanty.Aim: To compar...

Background: GnRH-analogs (GnRHa) are the recommended treatment for Central Precocious Puberty (CPP). Despite a normal long-term outcome is generally reported, reproductive function and emotional sphere in adulthood are still poorly evaluated.Objective: To evaluate the general long-term outcome of young women with previous CPP treated with GnRHa.Patients and methods: A cohort of 63 young women (25.5±5.31 years) with history of ...

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is considered an early step in the development of atherosclerosis, while an increased intima-media thickness (IMT) represents one of the earliest morphological changes in the arterial wall in the process of atherogenesis. Only a few studies have investigated endothelial dysfunction and IMT in GHD children and results are still inconsistent.Objective: Aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of GHD and GH treatment ...

Background: P450 Oxidoreductase (POR) Deficiency(PORD) represents the most complex form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It usuallycauses genital ambiguity in both sexes, and eventually peculiar skeletal malformations resembling Antley-Bixler syndrome. Co-occurrence of POR deficiency and Argininosuccinatelyase Deficiency (ALD)in the samepatient born to non-consanguineous parents has never been reported.Case report: A male patient was born at term to no...

Background: Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (PAI) is a rare life-threatening disorder. Data on etiology and outcome of PAI in childhood are scanty, with the exception of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD). The aim of our study is to evaluate etiology, morbidity and long-term outcome of PAI in a large cohort of children and characterize clinical presentation in subjects with PAI not due to 21OHD CAH.Material and me...