ESPE Abstracts

Background: Rodent models of leptin inactivity show progressive obesity due to exaggerated food intake. In humans, only rare monogenic cases of leptin deficiency and almost absent circulating leptin levels have been identified. Recently, two cases of children with early onset massive obesity due to biofunctionally inactive leptin in the face of normal total levels have been identified.Objective and hypotheses: Here we aimed to identify leptin inactivity ...

Introduction: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a multisystemic genetic disorder caused by lack of expression of genes on the paternally inherited chromosome 15q11.2–q13, characterized by dysmorphic features, hypotonia, mental retardation, behavioral abnormalities, hyperphagia with progressive obesity and endocrine dysfunctions as hypogonadism and GH deficiency (GHD).Cases report: We present 3 cases: 2 females and 1 male with specific clinical features...

Background: Management of SIADH is challenging and no optimal therapies are available in children. We present a case of an 11 years old boy with severe SIADH resistant to 30% fluid restriction in the context of an intracranial suprasellar high grade B-cell lymphoma who requires hyperhydration for chemotherapy protocol. Tolvaptan is an oral highly selective arginine vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, which has been approved for use in SIADH in adults.Obj...

Background: Congenital thyroid dysgenesis usually occurs sporadically and may even be discordant in monozygotic twins. However, when caused by inactivating mutations in the TSH receptor (TSHR) it can be inherited recessively, typically resulting in thyroid gland hypoplasia. We present a new familial case of thyroid dysgenesis with two siblings of consanguineous parents. The daughter was identified in neonatal screening with severely elevated TSH and thyroid agenesis on ultraso...

Background: Reports on obesity, high blood pressure and reduced insulin sensitivity in children with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) indicate an increased cardiovascular risk.Objective and Hypotheses: To evaluate potential mechanisms, we analysed various parameters of the carbohydrate metabolism in children and adolescents with CAH.Method: Out of 86 patients with classical CAH, n=41 (21 m, 20 f; ages: 6.9&#1...

Background: Fetuin A is a hepatokine known as a natural inhibitor of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and is associated with insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Studies on adults provided conflicting results regarding the link between fetuin A and the severity of liver damage in NAFLD. Data on children are limited.Objective: To investigate the relationship between fetuin A, metabolic parameters, and NAFLD in obese childre...

Background: Pituicytoma is a very low-grade glioma that originate in the neurohypophisis and infundibulum.Objective and hypotheses: Describe diagnosis and treatment of associated pituicytoma and ACTH-secreting adenoma in a 6-year-old girl.Method: Case report and literature review.Results: We report the case of a 6-year-old presented with growth failure and associated weight gain, premature pubarche, and hyper...

Background: The transcription factor (TF) SOX2 is expressed early in the embryological development and is essential for the development of many structures like neural system, pituitary gland, eyes, ears, esophagus, and gonads. The most common clinical manifestations of mutations in the SOX2 gene are eye abnormalities (anophthalmia/microphthalmia, coloboma, nystagm, and refractive errors) and hypopituitarism (deficiency of gonadotropic, GH, TSH, and ACTH). Molecular genetic stu...

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site where proteins are folded. Perturbation of ER homeostasis activates a set of ER-to-nucleus signaling reactions known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). Metabolic stress causes UPR activation which contributes to the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. As UPR can be activated by nutrient and oxygen starvation, we postulated that intrauterine growth restriction may trigger UPR signaling and thereby con...

Background: Maternal diabetes is a pathologic state that increases the incidence of complications in both the mother and the foetus. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) may exhibit reproductive abnormalities, including PCOS and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Diabetes during pregnancy is an endocrine disruptor and studies performed in animal models have shown abnormalities in gonadal function in the offspring, but it is unknown whether pre-gestational (PGDM) and gestational di...