Silvana Lauriola

Effect of different growth hormone dosages on the growth velocity in children born small for gestational age.

To assess whether short-term growth hormone (GH) treatment can improve the linear growth in children who were born small for gestational age (SGA), we started a randomized multicenter trial in 26 age- and sex-matched prepubertal children born SGA. During the 1st year of GH therapy, all children received GH 0.23 mg/kg/week, then during the 2nd year, 13 children received the same dose (group A), and in the other 13 children, the dose of GH was doubled, i.e., 0.46 mg/kg/week (group B). During the 1st year of therapy, the growth velocity significantly (p < 0.0001) increased in all patients. During the 2nd year, group A showed a significant decrease of the growth velocity (p < 0.015), whereas group B maintained the growth rate. The height in group A children significantly increased during the 1st and the 2nd year of GH therapy (p < 0.000002 and p < 0.000001, respectively), reaching the normal range in 8 out of 13 children at the end of 2 years of GH therapy. The height in group B children significantly increased during the 1st and the 2nd year of GH therapy (p < 0.000001 and p < 0.000001, respectively), reaching the normal range in all 11 children who completed the GH therapy. The height gain was similar in groups A and B treated with the same GH dosage during the 1st year of therapy. A greater increase in height gain was found in children of group B treated with the higher GH dosage during the 2nd year of therapy as compared with group A (p < 0.02). Significant increases in insulin-like growth factor I (p < 0.0001), acid-labile subunit (p < 0.0002), and bone/chronological age ratio (p < 0.0001) were found after the 1st year of GH therapy, but no significant changes were observed during the 2nd year, independently of the GH dose. In conclusion, the height velocity of children born SGA significantly increases during the 1st year of GH therapy, diminishes, but can decrease during the 2nd year, if the GH dosage is not raised.

Calcium Supplementation Increases Bone Mass in GH-Deficient Prepubertal Children during GH Replacement

Background/aims: Since GH plays an important role in bone mineralization, and several studies demonstrated the positive influence of a higher calcium intake on bone mass, we studied the effect of calcium supplementation in GHD children during GH therapy. Methods: 28 prepubertal GHD children, 5.0–9.9 years old, were assigned to two groups: group A (n = 14; 7 females) treated with GH, and group B (n = 14; 7 females) treated with GH + calcium gluconolactate and carbonate (1 g calcium/day per os). Auxological parameters, total bone mineral content (TBMC) and density (TBMD), leg BMC and BMD, lumbar BMD, fat mass (FM) and lean tissue mass (LTM), blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin (OC) and urinary N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) were determined at the start of therapy and after 1 and 2 years of treatment. Results: During the 2 years of the study, TBMC, TBMD, leg BMC and BMD (but not lumbar BMD) increased in both groups of patients, however after 2 years of treatment they were significantly higher in the calcium-supplemented group B than in group A (p < 0.05, for all parameters). At the start of therapy, in both groups of patients percentage FM was higher and total and leg LTM lower than in controls (p < 0.05 for each parameter). Thereafter, FM decreased and LTM increased and after 2 years they were both different from baseline (p < 0.05). After 2 years of treatment, leg BMC and BMD were more positively correlated with regional leg LTM in patients of group B (r = 0.834 and r = 0.827, respectively; p < 0.001) than in patients of group A (r = 0.617 and r = 0.637, respectively; p < 0.05). 25-OHD and PTH levels were in the normal range in all patients at the start and during treatment. OC levels were lower and urinary NTx levels higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.05 for both parameters), either at the start and after 1 year of treatment. After 2 years of treatment, OC levels were significantly higher than at the start of the study (p < 0.05) in both groups of patients, but they were higher in group B than in group A (p < 0.05); on the contrary, urinary Ntx levels were lower in group B than in group A (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In GHD children, treated with GH, calcium supplementation improved bone mass; it may aid in reaching better peak bone mass and in protecting weight-bearing bones, usually completed in childhood to maximum levels, from risk of osteoporosis and fractures later in life.

Congenital hypothyroidism with delayed TSH elevation in low-birth-weight infants: incidence, diagnosis and management

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with delayed TSH elevation among low-birth-weight (LBW) newborns in North-Eastern Italy and to verify if they need a second or third screening. DESIGN Analysis of clinical and biochemical data of newborns affected by CH with delayed TSH elevation identified by neonatal screening. METHODS Data of all newborns with birth weight (BW) <2500 g and evidence of delayed TSH elevation at newborn screening were collected between 2011 and 2014. Confirmatory tests were based on serum TSH and FT4 levels. All their clinical signs at diagnosis were reported. RESULTS 57.5% of LBW newborns with delayed TSH increase at neonatal screening presented a CH with delayed TSH elevation and began a treatment with l-thyroxine. The incidence of this condition in North-Eastern Italy is therefore 1:908. The remaining infants presented a subclinical hypothyroidism (21.25%) or a complete normal serum thyroid function (21.25%). These data could be drawn only from a retesting strategy of neonatal screening. CONCLUSIONS Our report describes the incidence of CH with delayed TSH rise in North-Eastern Italy and differentiates this clinical condition from other thyroid dysfunctions of preterm or LBW newborns. The second-screening strategy for CH in neonates with BW < 2500 g proved useful in detecting newborns who otherwise would not be identified at the first screening.

Children with premature pubarche: is an alterated neonatal 17-Ohp screening test a predictive factor?

BackgroundNeonatal screening for 21 hydroxylase deficiency is designed to detect classical form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). It is still unclear whether newborns who result false positives at neonatal screening might later develop signs of androgen excess. The aim of this study is to verify whether a slightly elevated 17-OHP at newborn screening is a predictive factor for premature pubarche.MethodsWe evaluated all infants born between 2001 and 2014 with premature pubarche. In case of increased bone age, they were submitted to functional tests to find out the cause of their symptoms. Their 17-OHP values at newborn screening for CAH were reconsidered.ResultsWe identified 330 patients (269 females, 61 males) with premature pubarche. All these children had a normal 17-OHP at newborn screening with the exception of a child, born preterm and not affected by CAH.ConclusionsAn elevated 17-OHP at newborn screening is not a predictive factor for premature pubarche. A likely cause of increased 17-OHP level at screening is an immaturity of adrenal gland or a neonatal stress. Therefore a strict follow up of these neonates during childhood is not necessary.

Limb hypertrophy: a skin vascular malformation and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis in a neonate

The second daughter of two healthy non-consanguineous parents, born at 37 weeks, presented with a large 3×2 cm abdominal angiomatous formation on her left flank, associated with left leg hypertrophy, macrodactyly of both feet with syndactyly of the second and third finger of the right food and left polydactyly (figure 1). Her neurological development and cardiopulmonary function were normal; she had no gastrointestinal or skeletal problems. Her weight was 3195 g (75th-90th centile). edpract;archdischild-2017-314021v2/F1F1F1Figure 1Photos of the lower limbs and the left side of the abdomen reveal bilateral hypertrophy of the limbs, more evident in the left leg, macrodactyly of both feet with syndactyly of the second and third finger of the right foot and left polydactyly and a large abdominal angiomatous formation. QUESTIONS 1: What investigations would you think of in a baby with limb hypertrophy and a vascular malformation? Limb X-rays followed by abdominal and limb CT scanLimb muscles and soft tissues MRIKidney and limb ultrasound followed by abdominal and limb CT scanThigh, leg and abdominal MRI and in second instance brain MRIThigh, leg and abdominal CT scan and brain MRI. QUESTIONS 2: Which overgrowth syndrome includes limb hypertrophy, skin vascular malformations and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis?Neurofibromatosis type ISotos syndromeBeckwith-Wiedemann syndromeMadelungs diseasePIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) disorder. Answers to the questions are on page 02 Answers to the questions on page 1.