Service for paediatricians
Collaboration
In paediatric, gynaecological or GP practices it has become apparent that there is an increasing number of children with a suspected primary endocrinological disorder. Even if the laboratory value results cant replace an appointment with the paediatric endocrinologist, the hormone values can in several cases provide a more accurate assessment of the urgency and necessity of treatment.
Laboratory medical test in advance of a referral
Based on frequent enquiries we would like to offer you the possibility of determining hormone values for children and adolescents rapidly and reliably. The renowned Laboratory Medicine Dortmund, which has gained a reputation throughout Germany over the past 30 years for comprehensive diagnostics from a single source, is also a member of our regional professional association.
On request you can also receive an assessment of the results when we provide notification of the laboratory medical reference ranges. This is the specific responsibility of the paediatric endocrinologist.
The following listed laboratory values only represent a recommendation of the preliminary investigations to be in a better position to decide whether a patients referral to the paediatric endocrinological consultant is necessary.
We would be happy to answer any queries you may have.
Adipositas
Only in rare cases is the cause of obesity hormonal. However hypothroidism and overproduction of cortisol should be ruled out.
Recommended analyses in the case of adipositas:
Cortisol in the serum and free corticoids in 24-hour urine collection as well as TSH, fT3, fT4, (TPO AB).
It is also important to recognise established secondary diseases deriving from the adipositas and as such to better justify the necessity of a loss of weight or, in the case of children who are still growing, a stabilisation of weight.
Also recommended in the case of adipositas a blood sample taken on an empty stomach:
Cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein a, intact proinsulin, cortisol in the serum, Got, GPT, GGT, Hba1c, TSH, fT3, fT4, LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, homocysteine, prolactin, 17-hydroxyprogesteron, uric acid
An oral-glucose-tolerance-test OGTT with insulin determination should also be conducted to recognise insulin resistance and to justify possible treatment with metformin.
- Oraler-Glukose-Toleranz-Test
- 155 KB pdf
Macrosomie
Macrosomie can often be traced back to a family disposition. Growth reducing hormone therapy can be considered for boys with a growth prognosis of over 203 cm and for girls of over 187 cm. It is advisable that boys measuring 165-170 cm or girls measuring 160-165 cm attend a paediatric endocrinological consultation session with their parents.
Macrosomie can also be attributed to a genetic syndrome such as for example Klinefelters or Marfan syndrome. You can find more information under Human genetics.
Percentile-cutting growth can also be the result of premature puberty development or a continuous exogenous supply of sexual hormones. Children with macrosomie may become conspicuous in these cases. Precocious puberty must be ruled out when growth acceleration is above average.
It is important to recognise percentile-cutting growth due to premature puberty development.
Recommended analyses in the case of macrosomie, which is not solely derived from the family:
LH, FSH, estradiol/17-β-oestradiol, testosterone, 17-OH-progesteron,
Hyposomie
Ursachen für gestörtes Wachstum
- Any chronic disease (prolonged nutritional problems, oncological diseases, heart, stomach, bowel or kidney diseases, coeliac disease)
- Hormone disorders:
Deficiency of growth hormone
Thyroid gland diseases
Disorders of puberty
Adrenal gland diseases
Hormone deficiency due to tumors - Genetically causes (the most common cause in girls is an Ullrich-Turner syndrome, Shox-Gen defects and many more.
Recommended endocrinological analyses on suspicion of a primary endocrinological growth disorder:
- IGF-1 and IGF-BP3;
- TSH, free T3, free T4.
- In adolescence: LH, FSH, testosterone, oestradiol;
- Sodium, potassium, cortisol, prolactin.
We also recommend the following parameters in clinical chemistry:
GOT, GPT, GGT, urea, creatinine, uric acid, Na, Ca, K, phosphate, iron, ferritin, CRP, differential blood count, and IgA, trans anti glutaminase-AB, gliadin/endomysium-AB.
Clarification of possible genetic causes should be left to the specialists. The general conditions outlined in the German genetic diagnostics law (GenDG) should be adhered to. See our department for Human Genetics.
Note:
- Urgent clarification in the case of percentile deviating growth!
- Does the growth correspond to the calculated target height range?
- Average target height boys: (Height father (in cm) plus height mother (in cm) divided by 2 plus 6.5 cm.
- Average target height girls: (Height father (in cm) plus height mother (in cm) divided by 2 minus 6.5 cm.
- It is to be expected that the final height of the children lies in the range of ± 8.5 cm from the calculated average target height.
Growth hormone determination (GH/STH) above and beyond a stimulation test is unnecessary. Physiologically GH is only distributed selectively/peak-like, meaning a low value outside a stimulation test bears no significance. There is generally a lowered IGF-1-level in children with a delay in development; the IGF-BP3- level for these children is however at a normal level for their age.
The symptoms are always the decisive criteria.
Percentile deviating growth has to be clarified.
Bone metabolism / Rickets
Vitamin-D-deficiency-rickets with impaired mineralization and structural disorders of the growth plate can originate from:
- An insufficient supply of Vitamin D
- Insufficient endogenous synthesis
- Malabsorption of Vitamin D in the intestine
A deficiency of Vitamin-D leads to reduced absorption of calcium in the bowel. According to the differential diagnosis the Vitamin-D dependent forms of rickets (VDAR) and the phosphorpenic forms must be differentiated. Infants/ small children and shrouded adolescents, people with a migrational background and/or dark skin are particularly at risk. Overweight children and adolescents also have a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency. If Vitamin D deficiency rickets is diagnosed chronic malabsorption disorders (coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis, Crohns disease), liver synthesis disorders, bile duct diseases or a chronic kidney insufficiency should be ruled out. In the case of prolonged rickets there are corresponding changes in the x-ray image of the left hand.
Recommended analyses on suspicion of a bone metabolism dysfunction:
Calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (AP), Vitamin D3/1,25-OH, Vitamin D2/25-OH, parathyroid hormone intact (EB°+)
Additional analyses on confirmation of rickets:
Calcium (serum & 24h-urine), phosphate (serum & 24h-urine), creatinine (serum & 24h-urine), urea, calculation of calcium/creatinine, procentual phosphate reabsorption (TRP), IgA, TGLUA, GLIA, GGT, GPT, bilirubin total & direct.
Note
Intact parathyroid hormone normal to lowered indicates phosphorpenic rickets. The calculation for tubular phosphate reabsorption is necessary in this case.
A normal AP rules out rickets (Exception: normal to lowered AP in the case of hypophosphatemic, renal tubular acidosis). Normal PTH rules out osteomalacia (Vitamin-D deficiency, VDAR I and II).
Precocious puberty / premature partial development
The appearance of secondary sexual features before the 8th birthday for girls and before the 9th birthday for boys always requires diagnostic clarification.
In every case of percentile-cutting growth premature puberty development in particular should be considered.
Recommended screening parameters:
- LH, FSH (increased values, central precocious puberty)
- Oestradiol, testosterone
- 17-hydroxyprogesterone, ACTH, androstendione, DHEAS (Adrenal androgens), sodium, potassium
Note
Selective pre-puberty values do not rule out precocious puberty. If central precocious puberty is suspected the LHRH test can provide further information. In the hormonal resting phase, approx. from the 2nd year of life until the beginning of the endogenous puberty, the pituitary gland does not react until the LHRH has been repeatedly pulsed from a pulse generator in the hypothalamus. Therefore the individual administering of LHRH in the LHRH test does not cause a rise in gonadotropine.
In the case of a premature pubarche and an acceleration in development an ACTH test should be conducted even for selective non-increased androgens.
Pubertas Tarda
In the case of absent puberty development further diagnostics are necessary at the latest at an age of approx. 13.5 years for girls and 14.5 years for boys.
Recommended analyses on suspicion of absent puberty development:
- LH, FSH, testosterone, oestradiol;
- TSH, fT3, fT4 (hypothroidism can lead to a delay in development),
- prolactin, cortisol in the serum
We also recommend the following
Parameters of clinical chemistry:
GOT, GPT, GGT, urea, creatinine, uric acid, Na, Ca, K, phosphate, iron, ferritin, CRP, differential blood count.
To rule out a pituitary cause a buserelin test should be conducted.
Thyroid gland diseases
The presence of a hyperthyroidism should be ruled out for an increasing number of patients with childhood hyperactivity. The paediatrician can detect this simply and easily. Should definite indications of Morbus Basedow be apparent, this constitutes an endocrinological emergency, which should be brought to the immediate attention of a paediatric endocrinologist. The most important clinical indications are a tachycardia, increased sweating (moist-warm hands), nervousness (increased reflexes) and an enlarged thyroid gland.
Recommended analyses on suspicion of a hyperthyreose:
TSH (suppressed), fT3, fT4, TSH receptor antibodies (T-R-AB; raised in the case of M. Basedow), thyroid gland peroxidase anti bodies (TPO-AB; hyperthyroidism at the beginning of an autoimmunthyreoiditis).
In many cases a hypothroidism should be ruled out as the cause for adipositas. Even if Cushing syndrome is extremely rare, cortisol levels in the serum should be determined or, even better; the level of free corticoids in the 24-hour urine collection should be identified.
Recommended analyses on suspicion of a hypothroidism:
TSH, fT3, fT4, (TPO AB).
Contact
Hormon- und Stoffwechselzentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche Dortmund
Prof. Dr. med. Richter-Unruh & Kolleginnen
44139 Dortmund
Germany
- +49 231 9572-7600
- 0231 9572-7602
Consultation hours:
Mo - Thu: 08.00 -12.00 and 14.00 -17.00
Fri: 08.00 -13.00
and by appointment
- Site plan
- Overview addresses house 1-5
- 99 KB pdf