Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Fractures are reported in 1/3 of children who have been abused. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) recommends that assessment of fractures where there is suspicion of physical abuse should include bone biochemistry: calcium (Ca), phosphate (Ph), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and Vitamin D (VitD).Objectives: To describe the pattern of bone biochemistry in children with fractures when non-accidenta...

Background: All children with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) should have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan performed as standard (GH Research Society, 2000).Aims: To determine whether all patients diagnosed with GHD as determined by stimulation testing had an MRI scan performed; and to examine the relationship between the results of endocrine investigations and MRI scans.Methods: Retrospective review of all children who had ...

Introduction: Delayed puberty is a common indication for referral to paediatric endocrine services. Although guidelines exist for management of testosterone replacement in adults, currently it is not clear what the optimum regimen for testosterone therapy is for children or how best to monitor boys throughout treatment.Aims: To identify the characteristics of testosterone therapy in boys referred for delayed puberty.Methods: Retros...

Background: Hypospadias in boys may be associated with a lack of androgen exposure during the masculinisation programming window. As testosterone has effects on the vasculature, we assessed whether boys with hypospadias show evidence of vascular dysfunction.Methods: Excess foreskin tissue was obtained from boys undergoing hypospadias repair (cases) or circumcision (controls) and small arteries dissected. Vascular contractility was assessed by wire myogra...

Background: Calculation of a urinary steroid metabolite ratio (uSMR) may be a useful method of improving diagnostic yield when investigating disorders of steroid hormone synthesis.Objective & HypothesisTo investigate the range of uSMR in children with suspected disorders of steroid hormone synthesis.Population / MethodsTen ratios were calculated on steroid metabolite data analysed b...

Introduction: Evaluation of XY DSD requires a combination of endocrine and genetic tests. It is unclear whether these two sets of investigations should be performed stepwise or in parallel.Aims: The aim of the study was to document the range of endocrine and genetic abnormalities identified in all XY boys who were investigated at one specialist multidisciplinary service.Methods: Case records were reviewed to collect information fro...

Introduction: There is some variation in the practice of gonadectomy for individuals with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) worldwide. This quality improvement project aims to undertake continued surveillance of the occurrence of gonadectomy in suspected or confirmed cases of DSD.Methods: Participating centres from the International-DSD Registry are sent a monthly email asking if a gonadectomy has been performed. A se...