ESPE Abstracts

Background: Central diabetes insipidus may result from mutations in the preproAVP gene, most often heterozygous and occurring de novo or inherited in an autosomal dominant mode; in these cases, intracellular accumulation of the misfolded product of the mutated allele slowly destroys the AVP-producing neurons, so that the onset of symptoms may be delayed for up to 28 years by which time the posterior pituitary hyperintense signal is no longer visible on magnetic resonance imagi...

During morphogenesis, embryonic progenitors proliferate, differentiate and establish the shape of the future organs and tissues. In the mature organism, a certain degree of plasticity and potential for regeneration is retained as most organs maintain a population of adult stem cells sharing important similarities with embryonic progenitors; they are characterized by the ability to both self-renew and differentiate into the full range of the specialized cell types corresponding...

Rapidly accumulating epidemiologic and experimental evidence has indicated that insufficient sleep, such as commonly experienced in modern societies by all age groups, reduces insulin sensitivity and impairs glucose metabolism in healthy adults, and increases the risk of incident type 2 diabetes. Studies in type 1 or type 2 diabetic adults show a link between reduced sleep quality or duration and poor glyceamic control. While poor diabetes control may impair sleep due to noctu...

Background: Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1/NR5A1) plays a crucial role in regulating adrenal development, gonad determination and differentiation, and in the hypothalamic-pituitary control of reproduction and metabolism. In men (46, XY) mutations in SF-1/NR5A1 gene cause a wide phenotypic spectrum that ranges from complete testicular dysgenesis with Müllerian structures and amenorrhea, through individuals with mild clitoromegaly or genital ambiguity, to severe penoscrotal h...

Background: In children, congenital hyperinsulinism is the most common cause for endogenous hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH). Beyond infancy other diagnoses may be considered, such as insulinoma, an insulin-secreting neuroendocrine tumour (NET) arising mostly from the pancreas. The latter is a rare cause of HH in children. The estimated incidence of insulinoma is 1:250’000 person-years of all age groups with a median age at diagnosis of 47 years. Herein, we report an ...

Background: Few studies have addressed the question of psychological impact and long term outcomes in MRKH patients.Objective and hypotheses: Our national multi-centric study aimed to assess MRKH patients’ experience concerning diagnostic announcement, treatment perception, impact on psychic functioning, socio-professional integration, affective and sexual life and quality of life.Method: First 40 MRKH patients aged 19–34...

Background: DAX-1 (NR0B1) plays a key role in adrenal and reproductive development. It interacts with other nuclear receptors; however, its exact biological role remains unclear. In men most patients with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) present with acute adrenal failure. To date DAX-1 mutations have been found in more than 100 families or patients with X-linked AHC.Results: We report the case of a 2.5-year-old boy who presented with a histor...

Background: Neonatal Cushing syndrome is a rare and severe condition, mostly associated with the McCune-Albright (MCA) syndrome. Management options include medical treatment (with ketoconazole or metyrapone resulting in 11-beta-hydroxylase blockade) and radical treatment with bilateral adrenalectomy. Spontaneous regression in late infancy has been reported.Objective and hypotheses: To report on the outcome of a 14 month-old girl with severe neonatal Cush...

Background: Early diffuse hyperinsulinism represents a life- and brain-threatening condition. Besides enteral or parenteral additional supply, diazoxide represents the first line treatment. For diazoxide-resistant (DREDHI) patients, ablative surgery exposes to severe local complications, exocrine pancreas insufficiency and diabetes or residual hypoglycaemia.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the pros and cons of non-surgical treatment of DREDHI.<p...

Background: In recent years, traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been identified as a significant cause of pituitary dysfunction in children. Paediatric prospective studies are rare especially for mild TBI.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this present study was to evaluate the frequency of hypopituitarism after mild, moderate and severe TBI in hospitalized children, and determining factors of this deficiency.Method: A prospective ...