0000000000343263
AUTHOR
Maria Felicia Faienza
Cardiovascular dysfunction and vitamin D status in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors
Vitamin D (25-OHD) has a role in bone health after treatment for cancer. 25-OHD deficiency has been associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but no data focusing on this topic in childhood cancer survivors have been published. We investigated the 25-OHD status in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and evaluated its influence on vascular function. 25-OHD levels were evaluated in 52 ALL survivors and 40 matched healthy controls. Patients were grouped according to 25-OHD level (< 20 ng/m or ≥ 20 ng/ml). Auxological parameters, biochemical and hemostatic markers of endothelial function (AD, HMW-AD, ET-1, vWFAg, TAT, D-dimers, Fbg, and hs-CRP), ultrasound ma…
Assessment of Cardiovascular Function in Childhood Leukemia Survivors: The Role of the Right Heart
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors who underwent chemotherapy with anthracyclines have an increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate left and right cardiac chamber performances and vascular endothelial function in childhood ALL survivors. Fifty-four ALL survivors and 37 healthy controls were enrolled. All patients underwent auxological evaluation, blood pressure measurements, biochemical parameters of endothelial dysfunction, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery, mean common carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT), antero-posterior diameter of the infra-renal abdominal aorta (APAO), and echocardiographic assessment. The ALL subjec…
Isolated childhood growth hormone deficiency: a 30-year experience on final height and a new prediction model
Purpose We aimed to evaluate the near-final height (nFHt) in a large cohort of pediatricpatients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and to elaborate a new predictive method of nFHt. Methods We recruited GHD patients diagnosed between 1987 and 2014 and followed-up until nFHt. To predict the values of nFHt, each predictor was run in a univariable spline. Results We enrolled 1051 patients. Pre-treatment height was -2.43 SDS, lower than parental height (THt) (-1.09 SDS, p < 0.001). The dose of recombinant human GH (rhGH) was 0.21mg/kg/week at start of treatment. nFHt was -1.08 SDS (height gain 1.27 SDS), higher than pre-treatment height (p < 0.001) and comparable to THt. 1.6% of the pat…
17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency: From pregnancy to adolescence
OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study is to report on basal clinical phenotype and follow up after diagnosis, of patients with 17beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 3 (17beta-HSD3) deficiency in Italy. SETTING: Pediatric Endocrine Departments, University Hospitals. PATIENTS: The cases of 5 Italian subjects affected by 17beta-HSD3 deficiency are presented in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Laboratory and genetic assessment. Gonadectomy and female sex assignment (4 patients) or GnRH analog therapy to regress puberty and gender identity disorder (1 patient). RESULTS: Presentation lasted from pregnancy (pre-natal diagnosis of a 46,XY fetus with female external genitalia) to infancy (inguinal hernia contai…
MODELLO DI PREVISIONE DELLA STATURA FINALE IN PAZIENTI PEDIATRICI ITALIANI AFFETTI DA DEFICIT DI GH TRATTATI CON SOMATROPINA
Obiettivi: elaborare un modello di previsione della statura finale in pazienti pediatrici con deficit di GH trattati con somatropina ricombinante, valutando quali siano le variabili più importanti nel determinismo della statura finale. Metodi: 1043 pazienti trattati per deficit di GH (picco di GH <10 ng/dl a 2 test di stimolo) giunti ad altezza finale. Mediana età a inizio trattamento 11 (IQR 8.7/12.8) anni; mediana altezza a inizio trattamento -2.43 (IQR -2.80/-2.01) SDS; mediana altezza bersaglio -1.09 (IQR -1.63/-0.48) SDS; dose iniziale di somatropina mediana altezza finale -1.08 SDS (IQR -1.64/-0.50 SDS, vs altezza a inizio trattamento p <0.001, vs altezza bersaglio p=ns). Analis…