ESPE Abstracts

Background: Growth Hormone Insensitivity (GHI) is usually caused by mutations in the Growth Hormone receptor (GHR). Patients present with short stature associated with high GH and low IGF-I levels and often have midfacial hypoplasia (typical Laron syndrome facial features). Our centre previously described the first GHR pseudoexon mutation (42700896A>G, c. 618+792A>G). The inclusion of this 108bp pseudoexon is predicted to lead to in-frame insertion of...

Background: In humans, glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate a broad spectrum of physiologic functions, exerting both genomic and nongenomic actions through their ubiquitously expressed glucocorticoid receptor (hGR). The rapid nongenomic actions of GCs are likely to be mediated by membrane hGRs that transduce the glucocorticoid signal via activation of kinases. S-palmitoylation plays an important role in plasma membrane localization and occurs through a highly conserved nine amino ac...

Background: The short stature homeobox-containing (SHOX) gene, located in the telomeric pseudoautosomal region 1 (PAR1) on the short arm of both sex chromosomes, is important for linear growth.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of SHOX gene deletions/point mutations in children with short stature in order to understand the role of SHOX gene in idiopathic short stature (ISS) and estimate its frequency.<p class=...

Background: Despite high survival rates in childhood craniopharyngioma, prognosis is frequently impaired due to sequelae. Radical surgery was the treatment of choice for several decades. However, even at experienced surgical facilities radical surgery can result in hypothalamic disorders such as severe obesity.Objective and hypotheses: We analyzed, whether treatment strategies for childhood craniopharyngioma patients recruited in German studies (KRANIOPH...

Background: Treatment with GH of children born SGA allows an increase in growth velocity (GV) and improves adult height. Increased insulin resistance has been described in these patients, which reverts after interrupting GH administration. However, long-term metabolic consequences are not clearly established.Objective and hypotheses: Describe insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) and auxological development (GV and height) in SGA children treated with GH fo...

Background: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare disorder of neonatal salt loss unresponsive to mineralocorticoids, requiring salt supplementation. It results from resistance of kidney and/or other tissues to mineralocorticoids, arising from mutations in genes encoding mineralocorticoid receptor (MR: NR3C2; autosomal dominant), or epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) genes (SCNN1A/B/G; autosomal recessive). Milder clinical phenotype associates with ren...

Background: Quality of life and long-term prognosis are frequently, often severely impaired in craniopharyngioma (CP) patients.Objective and hypotheses: Knowledge of risk factors for long-term outcome is important for optimisation of treatment.Method: Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), BMI, neuropsychological status (EORTCQLQ-C30, MFI-20), and psychosocial status were analysed in 261 patients with childhood-...

Background: Paediatric patients with sellar masses such as craniopharyngioma (CP) or cyst of Rathke’s pouch (CRP) frequently suffer disease- and treatment-related sequelae.Objective and hypotheses: We analysed the impact and prognostic relevance of initial hydrocephalus (HY) and hypothalamic involvement (HI) on long-term survival and functional capacity (FC) in children with CP or CRP.Method: Using retrospective analysis of pa...

Background: Pubertal gynaecomastia is thought to be a clinical sign of an oestrogen-androgen imbalance, affecting up to 60% of boys. In most cases no underlying endocrinopathy can be identified. In boys, Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by immature Sertoli cells and circulating level decreases as testosterone increases during pubertal maturation. In a previous cross sectional study we found significant lower levels of AMH in boys with pubertal gynaecomastia (Mieri...

Background: McCune Albright syndrome (MAS) is defined by the classic triad of precocious puberty, fibrous dysplasia of bone and café au lait skin pigmentation. However, the clinical spectrum is often more variable due to mosaic distribution of the postzygotic GNAS-mutation. Hypercortisolism occurs in a minority (5%) of patients. It is most frequently caused by nodular adrenal hyperplasia and can be life-threatening. Decisions on whether clinical management should be conse...