ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHA II) is an extremely rare disorder characterized by low plasma renin and aldosterone when a normal renal function with hypertension, hyperkalemia, and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. PHA II is also known as familial hyperkalemic hypertension or Gordon’s syndrome and is an inherited autosomal dominant. PHA II could be caused by pathogenic variants of WNK1, WNK4, KLHL3, and <em...

Background: The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) has been shown to be essential for steroidogenesis by mediating cholesterol transfer into mitochondria. Inactivating StAR mutations cause the typical clinical picture of congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to identify causative mutations in cases presenting with adrenal failure during early infancy.Method: Consecutive cases with adren...

Background: Mutations in CHD7 cause a rare multi-organ system disorder, CHARGE syndrome (CS). Genital hypoplasia has been described in 60-80% of reported cases because of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), which is a result of inadequate GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus. Correspondingly, IHH and anosmia are expected in cases with CHD7 mutation. However, due to the phenotypic spectrum of CHD7, mutations have also be...

BMP4, a member of the bone morphogenetic protein family which is part of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, is involved in the embryonic development of various organ and tissues including the cranio-facial structures, olfactory placode, pituitary, eyes, heart, and kidneys. Mutations in this gene are associated with orofacial cleft and microphthalmia in human patients. BMP4 plays an important role in the embryonic development of the GnRH neurons ...

Background: Gordon Holmes syndrome (GHS) is characterized by cerebellar ataxia/atrophy and normosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nHH). The underlying pathophysiology of this combined neurodegeneration and nHH remains unknown.Patients and methods: We studied a cohort of multiplex families with GHS through autozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing.Results: We identified patients from three independent families carrying loss-...

Background: Kallmann syndrome (KS), the prototype of anosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), is charecterized with HH acompanied by anosmia, absence or hypoplasia of olfactory bulbus due to defective morphogenesis. Mutations in 10 genes have been reported to cause KS while can clarify the underlying molecular defect in about 30–50% of IHH/KS cases. Beside, PROK2 gene mutations are extremely rare cause of KS. Herein, we present KS due to a homozygo...

Background: Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may be normosmic (nIHH) or it may be associated with anosmia, which is known as Kallmann syndrome (KS). First mutation GNRH1 was described in 2009 in patients with nIHH. Mutations of the human GNRH1 gene are a very rare cause of nIHH, with only six mutations so far described.Case: The proband is a 11.3-year-old boy who first presented at age 1 with micropenis and cryptorchidism. His p...

Introduction: Mutations in FGFR1, which is involved in formation and migration of neurons responsible for the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormones, may either cause isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) or Kallmann syndrome (KS). In addition, FGFR1mutations were reported in 2.7% of the cases with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency.Case: A 16-year-old male was referred to our clinic...

Background: GnRH neurons originate outside the CNS in the olfactory placode and migrate into the central nervous system, becoming integral components of the hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG).Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesize that gene(s), whose products are important for pubertal development can be identified via autozygosity mapping together with whole exome sequencing in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH)/...

Background: What initiates pubertal process in humans and other mammals has remained elusive.Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesize that gene(s), whose products trigger the GnRH pulse generator to restart ticking at the usual time of puberty, can be identified via autozygosity mapping together with whole exome sequencing in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH).Method: We studied a cohort IHH cases. Functi...