Pattern and Frequency of Short Stature in Albanian Children.

Introduction: Short stature is defined as a standing height more than 2 standard deviations (SDs) below the mean for age and sex. While there are many medical causes for being short and having poor growth, including growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, Turner syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney problems, malnutrition, etc., most children who are short are normal.

Phenylketonuria screening and management in southeastern Europe - survey results from 11 countries.

Background: We aimed to assess the current state of PKU screening and management in the region of southeastern Europe.

Methods: A survey was performed involving all identified professionals responsible for the PKU management in the 11 countries from South-Eastern region of Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia). The questionnaire was designed to assess the characteristics regarding PKU management in three main areas: nation-wide characteristics, PKU screening, and characteristics of the PKU management in the responding centre.

Graves' disease in Albanian children.

Background: Graves' disease (GD) accounts for 10-15% of thyroid disorders in patients less than 18 years of age. It is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in children and accounts for at least 95% of cases in children. Pediatric Treatment of Graves' disease consists of anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodide and thyroidectomy but the optimal treatment of GD in children is still controversial.

Final Height in Children with Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency treated with Growth Hormone: Albanian experience.

Objective- To evaluate the efficiency of recombinant growth hormone for increasing adult height in children treated for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and to evaluate the prognostic factor for height at the end of treatment. Design- Observational follow up study. Setting- Population based registry.

Newborn screening in southeastern Europe.

The aim of our study was to assess the current state of newborn screening (NBS) in the region of southeastern Europe, as an example of a developing region, focusing also on future plans. Responses were obtained from 11 countries. Phenylketonuria screening was not introduced in four of 11 countries, while congenital hypothyroidism screening was not introduced in three of them; extended NBS programs were non-existent.