Windswept Deformity a Disease or a Symptom? A Systematic Review on the Aetiologies and Hypotheses of Simultaneous Genu Valgum and Varum in Children.

Objective: The objective of this study is to create an overview of the possible aetiologies of windswept deformity and to emphasize the points of attention when presented with a case.

Methods: A systematic search according to the PRISMA statement was conducted using PubMed, African Journals Online, Cochrane, Embase, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Articles investigating the aetiology of windswept deformity at the knee in children, and articles with windswept deformity as an ancillary finding were included.

Optimizing the Timing of Highest Hydrocortisone Dose in Children and Adolescents With 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency.

Context: Hydrocortisone treatment of young patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) is given thrice daily, but there is debate about the optimal timing of the highest hydrocortisone dose, either mimicking the physiological diurnal rhythm (morning), or optimally suppressing androgen activity (evening).

Objective: We aimed to compare 2 standard hydrocortisone timing strategies, either highest dosage in the morning or evening, with respect to hormonal status throughout the day, nocturnal blood pressure (BP), and sleep and activity scores.

Methods: This 6-week crossover study included 39 patients (aged 4-19 years) with 21OHD.

Is a Two-Year Growth Response to Growth Hormone Treatment a Better Predictor of Poor Adult Height Outcome Than a First-Year Growth Response in Prepubertal Children With Growth Hormone Deficiency?

Objective: The first year response to growth hormone (GH) treatment is related to the total height gain in GH treated children, but an individual poor first year response is a weak predictor of a poor total GH effect in GH deficient (GHD) children. We investigated whether an underwhelming growth response after 2 years might be a better predictor of poor adult height (AH) outcome after GH treatment in GHD children.

Design And Methods: Height data of GHD children treated with GH for at least 4 consecutive years of which at least two prepubertal and who attained (near) (n)AH were retrieved from the Belgian Register for GH treated children (n = 110, 63% boys).

Criteria for First-Year Growth Response to Growth Hormone Treatment in Prepubertal Children With Growth Hormone Deficiency: Do They Predict Poor Adult Height Outcome?

Several criteria for first-year growth response (FYGR) to growth hormone (GH) treatment have been proposed. We explored which FYGR criteria predicted best the final height outcome after GH treatment in prepubertal children with GH deficiency (GHD). Height data of 129 GHD children (83 boys) who attained adult height and had been treated with GH for at least 4 consecutive years with at least 1 year before pubertal onset, were retrieved from the Belgian GH Registry.

Evaluation of the Dutch neonatal screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Background: In 2002, a nationwide screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) was introduced in the Netherlands. The aim of our study is to evaluate the validity of the neonatal screening for CAH and to assess how many newborns with salt-wasting (SW) CAH have already been clinically diagnosed before the screening result was known.

Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study.

Effect of growth hormone treatment on energy expenditure and its relation to first-year growth response in children.

Purpose: The effects of growth hormone (GH) treatment on linear growth and body composition have been studied extensively. Little is known about the GH effect on energy expenditure (EE). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GH treatment on EE in children, and to study whether the changes in EE can predict the height gain after 1 year.

Poor growth response during the first year of growth hormone treatment in short prepubertal children with growth hormone deficiency and born small for gestational age: a comparison of different criteria.

Background: There is no consensus on the definition of poor growth response after the first year of growth hormone (GH) treatment. We determined the proportion of poor responders identified by different criteria in children with GH deficiency (GHD) and born small for gestational age (SGA). The second aim was to analyze the IGF-1 response in poor growth responders.

Validation of Prediction Models for Near Adult Height in Children with Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency Treated with Growth Hormone: A Belgian Registry Study.

Background/aim: To validate prediction models for near final adult height (nFAH) by Ranke et al. [Horm Res Paediatr 2013;79:51-67].

Methods: Height data of 127 (82 male) idiopathic growth hormone (GH)-deficient children, treated with GH until nFAH, were retrieved from the database of the Belgian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (BESPEED).

Pituitary response to thyrotropin releasing hormone in children with overweight and obesity.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations in the high normal range are common in children with overweight and obesity, and associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Prior studies aiming at unravelling the mechanisms underlying these high TSH concentrations mainly focused on factors promoting thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) production as a cause for high TSH concentrations. However, it is unknown whether TSH release of the pituitary in response to TRH is affected in children with overweight and obesity.

Reference curve for the first-year growth response to growth hormone treatment in prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency: validation of the KIGS first-year growth response curve using the Belgian Register for the Study of Growth and Puberty Problems.

Background: Comparing observed and expected growth after first-year growth hormone (GH) therapy is useful for identifying a poor growth response to GH.

Aim: To generate a first-year, age-specific growth response reference curve for prepubertal Belgian children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (iGHD) treated with a standard weight-adjusted GH dose and to compare this national reference with the response references derived from KIGS.

Subjects And Methods: First-year height data of 357 prepubertal children (240 males) with iGHD were analyzed.