ESPE Abstracts

Background: Loss-of-function mutations in the Delta Like Non-Canonical Notch Ligand 1 (DLK1) gene have been identified in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP) and were associated with metabolic and reproductive alterations at adulthood.Objectives: To evaluate the effects of DLK1 loss-of-function mutations on metabolism and other biological process in adult women who had previously CPP in child...

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms can be present in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP), with or without abnormalities in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, they are especially common in those with CPP-related lesions.Aim: To assess the prevalence of brain lesions detected by MRI in a cohort of children with CPP and to evaluate the occurrence of neuropsychiatric manifestations.<p class="a...

Background: MKRN3 is known to decline prior to pubertal development in healthy individuals, indicating a potential inhibitor effect on reproductive axis. Currently, MKRN3 loss-of-function mutations represent the main genetic cause of familial central precocious puberty (CPP) in both sexes. The impact of these mutations on MKRN3 serum levels is poorly understood.Aim: To assess serum MKRN3 levels in girls with CPP...

Background: GNAS activating mutations are the genetic basis of McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS). Peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) due to functional ovarian cysts, with or without MAS features, denotes a potential GNAS -related disorder.Aim: To explore GNAS somatic mutations (p.R201C/H) in peripheral leukocyte DNA using ddPCR in girls with ovarian-origin PPP with or without MAS.<p class="ab...

Background: Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, a typical phenotype and feeding difficulties. It is related to 11p15 ICR1 hypomethylation in up to 50% of the cases. Some patients may exhibit signs of early puberty or premature adrenarche, including premature pubarche and/or an exaggerated adrenarche (high dehidroepyandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels for chronological age). Despite early feeding difficulties, some ch...

Introduction: McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS) is a rare congenital disorder caused by post-zygotic activating mutations in GNAS gene. Due to the mosaic pattern of this disease, mutation abundance is frequently low in several tissues, including blood cells. The emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodologies has allowed the analysis of millions of DNA fragments simultaneously and independently, enabling detection of low mutation abundance. Aim: To es...

Background: Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder, which remains a clinical diagnosis. The Netchine-Harbison clinical scoring system (NH-CSS), recently adopted by the first international consensus on SRS, defines SRS with at least 4 of the 6 following criteria: born SGA, postnatal growth retardation, relative macrocephaly at birth, prominent forehead, body asymmetry and early feeding difficulties. It is related to 11p15 ICR1 loss ...

Background: The etiology of short stature is heterogeneous, often encompassing complex genetic disorders of difficult diagnosis. Analysis of chromosomic copy number variants (CNVs) has been demonstrating the important role of these genomic imbalances in population diversity and human disease.Objective and hypotheses: To analyze the frequency and describe novel submicroscopic chromosomal CNVs in a group of patients with short stature of unknown cause....

Background: Loss of imprinting has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Monogenic causes of central precocious puberty (CPP) were identified in families with loss-of-function mutations in two paternally expressed imprinted genes: Makorin zinc finger 3 (MKRN3) and Delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1). The role of imprinting defects in CPP has not been described so far.Objective: To inves...

Background: Idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) is mostly described as an isolated entity. A few studies have shown its association with clinical syndromes and rare cases of chromosomal abnormalities.Objective: To clinically characterize patients with CPP, pointing out prevalent associated conditions and phenotypes.Patients and Methods: One hundred and forty-five patients with idiopathic CPP were retrospectively evaluated. ...