ESPE Abstracts

Background-Aim: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in the steroidogenic pathway of the adrenal cortex. In their most severe forms, they produce adrenal insufficiency and virilization of external genitalia when involving the terminal enzymes of the cortisol and aldosterone synthesis pathway (21-hydroxylase (21-OHD, OMIM#201910) and 11-hydroxylase (11-OHD, OMIM#202010) deficiencies). Mutations of <e...

Background: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is a group of disorders characterized by deficiencies in one or more hypophyseal hormones and a marked variability in genotype-phenotype correlations. Central diabetes insipidus (DI) is caused by a decreased release of ADH and results in a variable degree of polyuria. Their association is normally found in congenital cerebral midline abnormalities, such as septo-optic dysplasia.Objectiv...

Background: GL1I2 encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor expressed in the developing hypothalamus and in Rathke's pouch, the embryonic precursor of the pituitary gland. Pathogenic GL1I2 variants have been implicated in the etiology of the broad clinical spectrum of congenital hypopituitarism (CHY): holoprosencephaly, midline facial abnormalities, Culler-Jones syndrome, combined pituitary hormone-deficiency (CPHD) and isolated GH-defi...

X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is the most common form of hereditary rickets. It is caused by inactivating mutations in the PHEX gene (phosphate-regulating-endopeptidase-analog, X-linked), leading to increased fibroblastic growth (FGF-23) levels, responsible for the renal phosphate wasting. This results in hyperphosphaturia and hypophosphatemia, and altered bone mineralization, in the absence of vitamin D deficiency. Classical treatment consists on oral supplementatio...

Background: The diagnostic use of IGF-1 in children suspected of GHD is based on the assumption that a single determination of this parameter reflects the integrated 24-h GH secretion. IGF-1 levels are low in GHD, but a study found a significantly lower sensitivity in children with organic lesions in the brain.Objective: The aim of this study was to check if there is a statistically significant relation between IGF-1 values in children with GHD with and ...

Background: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII), is a rare renal tubular disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by hyperkalemic, hyperchloremic acidosis and hyporeninemia. Mutations in WNK4 and WNK1 were found initially. Recently have shown that KLHL3 and CUL3 are also causative genes.Objective and hypotheses: Hypertension, an essential symptom of PHAII, manifest in adolescents and young adults. In the absence of family history ...

Background: There is increasing interest in vitamin D nutrition during pregnancy because of widespread reports of a high prevalence of low vitamin D status in pregnant women in high-latitude areas. It has been related to adverse events in mother and child. Neonates present a greater risk of hypocalcaemia, rickets and a higher incidence of infections during the 1st year of life.Objective and hypotheses: Real situation of pregnant women and newborn in rela...

Background: Adult survivors from childhood malignancy are prone to accelerated atherogenesis and cardiovascular (CV) complications. In this population reliable tools are needed to detect preclinical onset of CV disease.Aim: To assess subclinical markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in young survivors from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with chemotherapy without cranial irradiation (AIEOP 2000 a...

Background: Both undernutrition and chronic inflammation impair linear growth through resistance to GH. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is known as an important regulator of the metabolic adaptation to fasting. Elevated expression of FGF21, secondary to prolonged undernutrition has been identified to develop GH resistance and subsequent attenuation of skeletal growth and growth plate chondrogenesis in both mice and human. However, the mechanism of FGF21&#1...

Background: Prevalence of childhood obesity (OB) represents a major public health concern, given the tracking of body weight from childhood to adult age and obesity-related morbidity.Objective: To describe prevalence of overweight (OW) and OB in children at 8 years and investigate relationship with metabolic alterations (lipid profile and insulin resistance).Methods: 485 pregnant mothers recruited between 2004-2007 and 409 children...