ESPE Abstracts

Background: Of the several genetic defects responsible for thyroid dyshormonogenesis, mutations in TPO gene are the most prevalent causes of inherited defects in CH. Prevalent mutations are in exons 8–11 (catalytic site).Case presentation: Girl, born at term (s.c) picked up by TSH screening and start of LT4 treatment at d14 with 14 μg/kg per day (table 1), clinical signs: no goiter, hypotonia, dry skin, posterior fontanel >5 mm, ...

Background: Familial PTC manifesting in childhood has been described only in single cases, mainly in the context of rare syndromes (APC-associated-syndrome, PTEN-hamartoma syndromes etc). PTC in Grave’s disease (GD) has been described in adults, but not in familial cases including young children.Objective and hypotheses: We investigated the association of large metastatic papillary carcinoma (PTC) in a 10 years old female and her mother evolving rap...

Background: The association of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), adrenal insufficiency and gonadal dysgenesis is well recognised. Some children have been reported to develop monosomy 7 and myelodysplasia. However, the genetic basis of this condition was poorly understood.Objective and hypotheses: Our aim was to investigate the genetic basis of eight children with IUGR, adrenal insufficiency and gonadal failure and additional features including seve...

Background: Rare congenital conditions with incongruence of chromosomal, gonadal, and phenotypic sex have been summarized as disorders of sex development (DSD). Included in DSD are conditions with diverse genetic etiology, varying levels of prenatal androgen effects, phenotypes, and subsequently, different medical treatments. Quality of life (QoL) and psychological wellbeing are indicators of successful psychosocial adaptation to the conditions. Studies addressing these issues...

Background: An early diagnosis and treatment based on neonatal screening offers a normal cognitive development in patients affected with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, several studies within cohorts of young adults have shown a still existing difference compared to control groups of up to eight IQ points. Moreover it has been claimed recently that a high L-T4 dose with subsequent episodes of overtreatment results in less favourable IQ outcom...

Background: Congenital thyroid dysgenesis usually occurs sporadically and may even be discordant in monozygotic twins. However, when caused by inactivating mutations in the TSH receptor (TSHR) it can be inherited recessively, typically resulting in thyroid gland hypoplasia. We present a new familial case of thyroid dysgenesis with two siblings of consanguineous parents. The daughter was identified in neonatal screening with severely elevated TSH and thyroid agenesis on ultraso...

Background: 49,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD) is a very rare disorder of testes development with an incidence of 1:50–100 000. MAP3K1 is a MAPK that mainly regulates the MAPK pathways. High Map3k1 expression was found in female and male mice gonads at 13.5 dpc. In 2010, MAP3K1 mutations were identified in two families with complete and partial XY GD and in two unrelated sporadic cases with complete XY GD (Pearlman 2010 AJMG). Recently, four additional mutations (four out of 4...

Background: POMC deficiency is an extremely rare monogenetic obesity syndrome generally characterized by early onset hyperphagia, red hair and adrenal insufficiency. So far treatment of obesity and hyperphagia with MSH substitution failed, either due to ineffectiveness or side effects of available MC4R agonists.Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesized that the new MC-4R agonist setmelanotide might be a treatment option in POMC deficient patients.<p ...

Background: POMC plays a major role in central body weight regulation. Recently we have shown that a POMC hypermethylation variant is significantly associated with obesity in children and adolescents (Kuehnen et al. PLoS Genetics 2012).Objective and hypotheses: Here we report about our extended studies to elucidate the mechanism behind the occurrence of the POMC hypermethylation variant in obese individuals.<p clas...

Background/Objective: 17bHSD3D is a rare genetic disorder that leads to disorders of sex development (DSD) in 46,XY patients. Phenotype at birth ranges from unsuspicious female genitalia to micropenises. Besides molecular genetic testing no reliable lab parameters have been established for pre-identifying patients through basal steroid-levels or hCG-testing. This bares the risk of under-, mis- or late diagnosis. Further, little research has been performed on psychological well...