ESPE Abstracts

Background: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is genetically mediated in up to 30% of cases. Many genes associated with POI have roles in early ovary developmental processes, including meiosis.Objectives: We investigated the genetic mechanism underlying early-onset POI in three young women presenting with absent puberty: two sisters from a consanguineous pedigree and a third unrelated proband.<st...

Background: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH), involving deficiencies in one or more anterior pituitary hormones, is rarely observed in combination with severe joint contractures, termed arthrogryposis. Schaaf-Yang syndrome (SHFYNG), which has phenotypic overlap with Prader-Willi syndrome, may be associated with arthrogryposis. L1 syndrome, a group of X-linked disorders including hydrocephalus and spasticity of the lower limbs, may also present with generalized contractures in r...

Background: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) affects 1% of women and is associated with significant medical consequences. In approximately 10% of cases, POI presents early with absent puberty or primary amenorrhoea. A genetic cause for POI can be found in up to 30% of women. Identified genes often relate to the complex biological processes occurring in fetal life which underpin normal ovary development and function in later adulthood.Objective: We aim...

Three patients from two unrelated families in Malta; one consanguineous (siblings: Patient 1, male and Patient 2, female) and one non-consanguineous (Patient 3, male), manifested hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with delayed puberty, intellectual disability, scoliosis, and ataxia with cerebellar hypoplasia on MRI. GnRH tests revealed low peak LH and FSH concentrations in the patients: Patient 1; LH 2.3 IU/L, FSH 4.4 IU/L (14.3y), Patient 2; LH 3.6 IU/L, FSH 6.4 IU/L (12.5y), Pati...

Introduction: Neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) affects about 15% of all neonates and about 50% of neonates born with risk factors, including maternal diabetes, large- or small for gestational age, or prematurity. Although it is known that hypoglycemia in congenital hyperinsulinism can lead to brain injury, it is still not clear to what extent transitional NH is tolerated during the first days of life without brain damage. Thus, treatment thresholds and management st...

The use of recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) as safe vectors have allowed hundreds of gene therapy attempts to treat monogenic diseases not including bone genetic diseases (Gao G, Nat Rev Drug Dis 2019). To our knowledge, there has been few attempts to apply gene therapy to monogenic bone diseases, largely because most skeletal malformations are being developed during fetal life. Patients affected with acrodysostosis are known to aggravate their skeletal malformation...

Background: Patients with genetic variants in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway may present with early-onset, severe obesity and hyperphagia. Increasing awareness of genetic testing could improve diagnosis of rare genetic causes of obesity and identify patients who might benefit from targeted therapy; however, such testing has been limited. Moreover, the frequency of specific genetic variants in this population is currently unknown. The Rare Obesity A...

Background: The contribution of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and parental height (PH) to childhood short stature is difficult to determine in countries, including the UK, where birth length (BL) is not routinely measured, while accurate PH may become unavailable due to separation/divorce. A previous study (2008–2009) examined the feasibility of BL and PH measurement in the lightest 9% of babies born in a single maternity unit. Uptake was disappointing, with part...

Objective: To investigate response to growth hormone (GH) treatment for idiopathic GH deficient (GHD) and family short stature (FSS) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA) patients or Combined group.Design: GHD, FSS, SGA and Combined group patients who were currently receiving GH and had completed treatment with treatment duration of more than 6 months (from 8/2019 to 5/2021) at International Vinmec Central Park hospital. M...

Background: Precocious puberty is defined by the development of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 in girls and before the age of 9 in boys. if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage, precocious puberty can compromise final adult height and trigger psychological disturbances. Gonadotropin- releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) contributes to achievement of target final height by reducing the acceleration of bone maturation.<p class="abst...