touchCONGRESS Continuing the conversation in paediatric endocrinology – how do the latest advances in understanding biology translate to improved patient care?

In this interview, Martin Savage answers the following questions:

• New genetic techniques are identifying non-classical, less severe forms of growth hormone insensitivity (GHI). Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• The EU-IGFD registry revealed huge variations in SPIGFD treatment practices across the EU. What are your thoughts on this and do you feel there is a need for international collaboration to determine best practice?
• Studies presented at ESPE 2019 indicates a future where patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) will have the option of once-weekly rather than once-daily recombinant human growth hormone. What are the implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes?
• A study presented at ESPE 2019 showed moderate agreement between self-report and objective compliance among children with GHD. Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• A review of current clinical and genetic information for growth disorders is facilitating the development of new taxonomic classifications. How would a taxonomic classification impact your clinical practice?

In this interview, Jesús Argente answers the following questions:

• New genetic techniques are identifying non-classical, less severe forms of growth hormone insensitivity (GHI). Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• The EU-IGFD registry revealed huge variations in SPIGFD treatment practices across the EU. What are your thoughts on this and do you feel there is a need for international collaboration to determine best practice?
• Studies presented at ESPE 2019 indicates a future where patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) will have the option of once-weekly rather than once-daily recombinant human growth hormone. What are the implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes?
• A study presented at ESPE 2019 showed moderate agreement between self-report and objective compliance among children with GHD. Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• A review of current clinical and genetic information for growth disorders is facilitating the development of new taxonomic classifications. How would a taxonomic classification impact your clinical practice?

Prof. Jesús Argente, MD, PhD, is Professor and Director of the Department of Paediatrics at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He is Chairman of the Department of Paediatrics and Endocrinology at Child Jesus University Children’s Hospital, Madrid, Spain, where he is also the Director of the Laboratory of Research and Group Leader of the Childhood Obesity programme for CIBEROBN (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición).

Prof. Argente received his medical degree from the University of Zaragoza and a PhD in Medicine from the University of Alcalá in Spain, in both of which he was awarded top honours. His clinical and research interests are focused on obesity, growth, puberty and diabetes. He has published over 580 original research articles, reviews and book chapters and has lectured in over 30 different countries internationally.

Prof. Argente has previously held the roles of both President of ESPE and President of the Spanish Society for Paediatric Endocrinology. He was also awarded the ESPE Young Investigator Award in 1993 and the Henning Andersen Prize in 1989, 2013 and 2015.

Disclosures: None.

In this interview, Sandro Loche answers the following questions:

• New genetic techniques are identifying non-classical, less severe forms of growth hormone insensitivity (GHI). Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• The EU-IGFD registry revealed huge variations in SPIGFD treatment practices across the EU. What are your thoughts on this and do you feel there is a need for international collaboration to determine best practice?
• Studies presented at ESPE 2019 indicates a future where patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) will have the option of once-weekly rather than once-daily recombinant human growth hormone. What are the implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes?
• A study presented at ESPE 2019 showed moderate agreement between self-report and objective compliance among children with GHD. Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• A review of current clinical and genetic information for growth disorders is facilitating the development of new taxonomic classifications. How would a taxonomic classification impact your clinical practice?

Dr Sandro Loche, MD, is the Director of the SSD Pediatric Endocrinology and Neonatal Screening Centre, Microcitemico Pediatric Hospital, Cagliari, Italy. In addition to running his own clinical practice, Dr Loche supervises medical students and paediatric interns. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cagliari in 1979 and completed his specialities in paediatrics and endocrinology at the same University.

Dr Loche’s areas of research interest include growth and growth disorders, childhood obesity, the diagnosis and management of growth hormone deficiency and the neuroendocrine regulation of growth hormone secretion. He has published over 200 original research articles, reviews and book chapters and has been an invited speaker and/or chairman at several national and international conferences.

Dr Loche is currently the Associate Editor for Frontiers in Endocrinology and was previously the Editor for the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. He is also a member of numerous professional societies, including the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology.

Dr Sandro Loche discloses:  Consultant for and has received lecture fees from Eli Lilly, Ipsen, Merck Serono and Sandoz.

In this interview, Marco Cappa answers the following questions:

• New genetic techniques are identifying non-classical, less severe forms of growth hormone insensitivity (GHI). Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• The EU-IGFD registry revealed huge variations in SPIGFD treatment practices across the EU. What are your thoughts on this and do you feel there is a need for international collaboration to determine best practice?
• Studies presented at ESPE 2019 indicates a future where patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) will have the option of once-weekly rather than once-daily recombinant human growth hormone. What are the implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes?
• A study presented at ESPE 2019 showed moderate agreement between self-report and objective compliance among children with GHD. Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• A review of current clinical and genetic information for growth disorders is facilitating the development of new taxonomic classifications. How would a taxonomic classification impact your clinical practice?

Dr Marco Cappa, MD, PhD, is Head of the Endocrinology Unit within the Department of Paediatric Medicine at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome, Italy. He is also a Professor of Paediatrics and Endocrinology at the Sapienza University of Rome and in Paediatric Endocrinology and Genetics at the Catholic University of Rome. Dr Cappa was awarded his PhD in Molecular and Experimental Pathology from the University of Turin in Italy.

Dr Cappa’s clinical specialties include paediatrics, endocrinology and sports medicine. His areas of research interest are neuroendocrinology and genetics, including Prader-Willi syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and growth hormone testing.

Dr Cappa has published over 325 research articles and book chapters and is a reviewer for numerous scientific journals, including the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is also on the editorial board for the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness and the Italian Journal of Paediatrics.

Dr Marco Cappa discloses:  Honoraria for scientific boards from Aegerion, Ipsen, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Sandoz.

In this interview, David Martin answers the following questions:

• New genetic techniques are identifying non-classical, less severe forms of growth hormone insensitivity (GHI). Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• The EU-IGFD registry revealed huge variations in SPIGFD treatment practices across the EU. What are your thoughts on this and do you feel there is a need for international collaboration to determine best practice?
• Studies presented at ESPE 2019 indicates a future where patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) will have the option of once-weekly rather than once-daily recombinant human growth hormone. What are the implications for clinical practice and patient outcomes?
• A study presented at ESPE 2019 showed moderate agreement between self-report and objective compliance among children with GHD. Will this finding change your clinical practice in any way?
• A review of current clinical and genetic information for growth disorders is facilitating the development of new taxonomic classifications. How would a taxonomic classification impact your clinical practice?

Prof. David Martin, MD, is a Paediatric Endocrinologist, Haematologist, Oncologist and Diabetologist. He is a Professor of Paediatrics at Tübingen University and a Consultant leading the Paediatric Endocrinology and Integrative Paediatric Oncology outpatient services at the Filderklinik Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany. He also holds the Gerhard Kienle Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany.

Prof. Martin’s research interests focus on the fields of endocrinology, growth and skeletal development. He has received several research awards for his work and is widely published with over 100 research articles and book chapters.

Prof. Martin is both the founder and director of the Clinical Foundation Course at the Eugen-Kolisko Academy, a tutor for anthroposophic-drs-training.org and Scientific Director for icihm.org.

Prof. David Martin discloses:  Research Fellowship grant from Novo Nordisk and research grants from Novo Nordisk and Pfizer.  Speaker honoraria from Ipsen, Merck and Pfizer.