ESPE Abstracts

Background: Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a heterogeneous genetically determined condition that is characterised by unregulated secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells. The most common and severe cases are caused by mutations in the ABCC8 gene encoding the SUR1 subunit of the KATP channel subunit. To assess the pathogenic effect of novel ABCC8 mutations we performed in-vitro functional studies.Objective and hy...

Background: Neonatal hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) has recently been recognized as a consequence of mutations in HNF1A, which also cause maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) later in life.Aims: To report phenotypic and genetic investigations of two patients with functional characterisation of identified mutations in HNF1A.Case reports: Two unrelated patients presented with HH requiring i.v. glucose a...

Background: Approximately 10% of children born small for gestational age (SGA) fail to catch-up nd remain short (SGA-SS). Although several mechanisms causing SGA-SS have been elucidated, the primary cause remains speculative in most cases.Aim: To decipher genetic causes of SGA-SS defined as birth length and/or birth weight <-2 SD for gestational age, and body height <-2.5 SD after the 3rd year of life within a larg...

Introduction: Familial short stature (FSS) describes vertically transmitted growth disorders. Traditionally, polygenic inheritance is presumed, but monogenic inheritance seems to occur more frequently than expected. Clinical predictors of monogenic FSS have not been elucidated thus far. The aim of the study was to identify the monogenic etiology and its clinical predictors in FSS children.Patients and Methods: Of 747 pat...

Introduction: The genetic investigation of tall stature (TS) is routinely indicated only in children with clinical suspicion of a specific syndrome associated with TS. After ruling out an endocrine disorder, the remaining tall children mostly receive a clinical diagnosis of “idiopathic” (ITS) or “familial” tall stature (FTS). The aetiology of their TS remains unknown.Aims: To elucidate genetic cau...

Introduction: The diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is complex, involving the combination of auxological, laboratory, and radiological findings. This includes growth hormone (GH) stimulation tests, which are done to confirm the diagnosis. It has been discussed that these tests have low specificity, potentially leading to false positive results. Therefore, children with GHD are regarded as a heterogeneous group with varied causes of short stature. Ne...

Introduction: C-type natriuretic peptide receptor encoded by NPR2 gene stimulates chondrocyte differentiation and hypertrophy and extracellular matrix production within the growth plate. The phenotypical spectrum of NPR2 mutations is broad, from severe autosomal recessive acromesomelic dysplasia to milder autosomal dominant growth disorders. Some children with NPR2 variants are treated with growth hormone (GH), however, with the inco...

Introduction: Congenital central hypothyroidism (CCH) is a rare disease with inappropriate thyroid hormone secretion due to impaired TSH stimulation. TSH levels are not elevated; the patients are not diagnosed in TSH-based newborn screening. Biallelic variants in TRHR gene (encoding TRH receptor) are one of four genetic defects known to cause isolated CCH (THRH, THSB, IGSF1, TBL1X). The phenotype is variable but generally mild (neon...

Background: Mutations in PROP1 are the most common known genetic cause of congenital multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD).Objective and hypotheses: Aim of our study was to clinically and genetically characterize a cohort of Lithuanian patients with MPHD.Method: Seventy-six Lithuanian MPHD patients were tested for PROP1 gene by Sanger sequencing. Hormonal investigations, pituitary imaging and GH therapy wer...

Background: Ten percent of children born small for gestational age fail to catch-up and remain short during childhood (SGA-SS). Several genes causing SGA-SS have been described, however, in most cases, the mechanisms of prenatal and postnatal growth impairment remain unknown.Aim: To decipher genetic etiologies within a large single-center cohort of SGA-SS children in order to better understand the pathophysiological mech...