Endocrine Abstracts

New UK growth charts using the new WHO standard for children from birth to four years should now be used for all babies born in England after May 11th 2009 (October 2009 in Scotland).The WHO charts for the first time describe optimal rather than average growth, set breast feeding as the norm and are suitable for all ethnic groups. UK children fit the new charts well for length and height but will look appear relatively heavier by the age of one. This wil...

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The pubertal growth spurt involves a rapid increase then decrease in height velocity (HV), where both the timing and intensity of the spurt vary considerably between individuals. The analysis of such growth curve data is an ongoing statistical problem. Current approaches involve fitting say the Preece–Baines (PB) curve to each individual’s data, and summarising the curves by averaging the five fitted PB parameters across individuals. But this has two drawbacks: fitti...

The investigation of growth failure can be fraught with difficulties at all ages, but never more so than in the peri-pubertal period. The differential diagnosis at this period of life includes constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP), hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH), GH insufficiency (GHD/GHI) and a physiological peri-pubertal reduction in growth velocity in addition to other organic causes of growth failure. Careful auxology and pubertal staging with assessment o...

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Diabetes control is poor in children in the UK with fewer than 20% of children achieving target HbAlc levels. Multiple injection therapy and insulin pumps produce the most physiological blood glucose control but both require the child to have blood glucose testing and insulin dosing at each meal and most snacks, and therefore at school. There are often huge obstacles to setting appropriate support in place in schools, particularly in children who are too young to perform their...

Life expectancy has improved for all children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CACF); children now survive into adult life. Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is increasing1–3. The combination of CF and diabetes has a negative impact on survival. From 2002 to date, CFRD has been related to decreased survival3 and survival gender differences are also described4. Patients with CFRD have a sixfold increase in morbidity and mortality...

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