ESPE Abstracts

Background: Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)-secretion is not only regulated by neuronal factors but also by astroglia cells via growth factors (transforming growth factor α (TGFα), neuregulin (NRG)), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the erbB receptor family. Mutations of TGFα and erbB1 result in an impaired reproductive capacity. Mice show a characteristically skin phenotype with wavy hair and curly whiskers. The rat strain SPRD-Cu3 (curly) shows a sim...

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare disorder characterized by incomplete or absent puberty caused by the lack or deficient number of hypothalamic GnRH neurons, disturbed secretion or action of GnRH, or both. The association of CHH and a defective sense of smell (anosmia or hyposmia) found in approximately half of the CHH patients is termed Kallmann syndrome (KS). CHH is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, and >25 different causal genes have been ...

Background: Idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) results from the premature reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis leading to development of secondary sexual characteristics prior to 8 years in girls or 9 years in boys. Mutations in the maternally imprinted MKNR3 gene are the most common identified genetic cause of ICPP to date. Expression of MKRN3 in the arcuate nucleus is presumed to be inhibitory to GnRH secretion, but the exact mechanism remains un...

Background: Mutations in the X-chromosomal androgen receptor (AR) gene, rendering the AR protein completely or partially inactive, cause complete or partial (PAIS) androgen insensitivity syndrome.Case report: The proband was born at term following uneventful pregnancy. His phallus length was 28 mm, he had palpable gonads in the lower portion of the inguinal canal, and he had a severe penoscrotal hypospadia. His karyotype was 46,XY, and molecular...

Background: Overweight as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcome is of particular interest in gender-affirming healthcare. Transgender populations are at a higher risk for obesity, possibly due to a combination of minority stress, psychiatric comorbidity, and lifestyle differences, such as reluctance to participate in group sports as a consequence of social withdrawal. However, robust auxological data in transgender adolescents is scarce.<p class="a...

Background: Delayed puberty (DP) is generally considered a benign condition. We investigated the diagnoses underlying DP and its outcome predictors.Objective: A retrospective chart review which included clinical and biochemical data of 174 boys and 70 girls evaluated for DP in a single tertiary care center between 2004 and 2014.Results: Thirty etiologies that underlie DP were identified. No markers of clinical value could be identi...

Background: Previous studies have indicated that taller individuals have a higher risk of developing different types of cancer, including breast cancer and melanoma.Objective and hypotheses: Our goal was to study any association between height and the risk of cancer in general-, and breast cancer and melanoma specifically in a very large cohort composed of most Swedish women and men followed over a long period of time.Method: We ha...

Background: In addition to its function in circadian rhythm Melatonin plays an important role in energy metabolism and body weight regulation. In animals pinealectomy induces insulin resistance and administration of melatonin to diabetes prone rats ameliorates their glucose metabolism. Furthermore loss-of-function mutations of the melatonin receptor gene are associated with insulin resistance and DM II in humans.Objective and hypotheses: So far the effec...

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of Austrian children and adolescents with gender dysphoria seeking gender affirming medical care, as well as their treatment trajectories.Methods:In this retrospective study at a large university hospital, a chart review of all patients presenting with gender dysphoria at the pediatric outpatient clinic for differences in sex development betwee...

Background: Virilization of young children after topical androgen use by their fathers through skin contact is well-known. The long-term consequences of such exposure at very young age are not well known.Objective and hypotheses: The aim is to report the occurrence of spermarche in a young boy and central precocious puberty in a young girl as late consequences of interpersonal transfer of testosterone gel.Method: Testosterone conta...