ESPE Abstracts

Background: Endocrine disruptors (ED) can alter endocrine function. ED have become a part of everyday life and are found among phytoestrogens, active ingredients in pharmaceuticals, and additives or contaminants in food, personal care products, cosmetics, plastics and textiles.Objective: To describe cases of children with signs of early puberty who are exposed to ED.Method: Observational study of patients affected of premature pube...

The main role of the acid-labile subunit (ALS) is to stabilize the IGFBP3/IGF complexes. Pathogenic variants in the gene coding for ALS (IGFALS) results in IGF1 and IGFBP3 deficiency, short stature, delay puberty and insulin resistance. The aim of these study was to identify the genetic cause in a patient with suspected ALS deficiency. The proband is the third son of non-consanguineous parents, evaluated for the first time at 17.3 years due to short stature (−2....

Introduction: The hypothalamic melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway plays a vital role in energy balance. Genetic defects in the MC4R pathway may result in severe early onset obesity.Objective: The TEMPO registry (NCT03479437) aims to identify and enroll approximately 1000 participants with rare genetic forms of obesity that are potentially related to key genes, upstream or downstream, of the MC4R. In addition, the TEMPO registry will evaluate the burd...

Background: We previously reported the first human mutation in mini-chromosome maintenance homologue 4 (MCM4) in a cohort of patients with adrenal failure, immunodeficiency and chromosomal fragility.Objective and Hypotheses: To report the full endocrine phenotype of 14 patients with MCM4 mutations.Method: Patients case notes were examined and investigations performed to fully assess adrenal function, pubertal development, gonadal f...

Background: We present a boy with classical adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and constantly increased 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-P) values despite multiple dose adjustments of hydrocortisone up to 18 mg/m2 body surface and addition of fludrocortisone. After puberty, therapy was changed from hydrocortisone to prednisone without improvement of the 17-OH-P values. Non-compliance was suspected as cause of the inadequately controlled CAH. Alternatively, an atypical steroid metab...

Background: The easypodTM auto-injector is designed to make daily administration of recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) comfortable and easier to patients. EasypodTM device delivers pre-set doses of r-hGH (Saizen®) and stores a digital record of adherence to therapy that can be shared with healthcare providers for evaluation.Objective: To assess adherence to r-hGH therapy delivered via the easypodTM device in ea...

Introduction: Pituitary gigantism is caused by a somatotroph pituitary tumor that occurs before epiphyseal closure and is associated with increased morbidity due to the systemic effects of chronic hormonal excess. It is an extremely rare disease, with an estimated incidence of 8 per million person-years. Therapeutic modalities for pituitary gigantism are the same as those for acromegaly and include surgery, medication and radiation. Medical treatment plays an ...

Background: One of the main concerns in patients with growth disorders is to achieve optimal adherence to growth hormone (GH) treatment. For this it is important to identify patients with low adherence to treatment and to evaluate actions to improve it.The Merck Patient Support Program (PSP) carried out educational actions aimed at patients with low adherence and their parents, to raise their awareness of the importance of good adherence...

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial trace mineral that regulates the expression and activation of biological molecules such as transcription factors, enzymes, adapters, channels, and growth factors, along with their receptors. Bioinformatics analysis of the human genome discloses that Zn may bind ~ 10% of all of the proteins found in the human organism. This remarkable finding highlights the physiological significance of Zn in molecules involved in cellular processes and thereby i...

Introduction: We report a case of a 15 year old male with metabolic syndrome due to primary hyperparathyroidism.Case report: A 15 year old male was admitted in our department for the evaluation and management of obesity. His medical history revealed a progressive weight gain in the last 3 years in an emotional familial context. Clinical features: Obesity: Z-score of +2.32 DS, a height of 1.80 m and a weight of 108 kg, with a BMI of 33.3...