ESPE Abstracts

Background: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare, inherited metabolic disease characterised by bone mineralisation defects and osteomalacia, and systemic manifestations, including seizures, respiratory insufficiency, muscle weakness, nephrocalcinosis, and pain. The biochemical hallmark of HPP is low serum alkaline phosphatase activity, resulting from loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase. HPP presents a broad spectrum of disease s...

Background: ICSI is an assisted reproduction technique (ART) mainly used to overcome male infertility. Nowadays, ICSI is employed frequently due to its high success rate, despite it being highly invasive (i.e. epigenetic risk). Recent studies in ART offspring show a higher incidence of cardio-metabolic risk than in naturally-conceived (NC) controls. Thus, in our prior untargeted metabolomic study between ICSI and NC prepubertal girls, we demonstrated insulin resistance in the ...

Background: Minipuberty denotes a transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) hormone axis in infancy. This activation provides an opportunity to examine the gonadal function in infants suspected of hypogonadism before the axis is silenced during childhood. However, female minipuberty remains poorly elucidated. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate dynamic changes in luteinizing hormone (LH), follic...

Background: Growth during infancy is a continuation of the rapid fetal growth and its regulation is complex and multifactorial. It is well-established that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its regulators (e.g. IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-3) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A2 (PAPP-A2)) are important for prenatal and postnatal growth; however, their significance for growth during infancy is not fully explored.Aims: The aim...

Introduction: DSD patients present varied degrees of atypical genitalia. The social sex assignment and the surgery decisions must be proceeded by a multidisciplinary team approach with the family. Surgeries should be only performed by experienced surgeons. The current trend is the early correction, but some patients and non-governmental entities argue that the surgeries should be delayed until the patient’s consent.Objective...

Introduction: Paediatric morbid obesity (BMI >99.6th centile for age) causes severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) requiring respiratory support. Patient prognosis is poor and requires urgent intervention. Four patients with morbid obesity and severe OSA were admitted for multidisciplinary team (MDT) intensive weight management and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) initiation.Methods: The patients...

Background and Aim: Despite the broad individual variation of pubertal maturation, references traditionally describe growth in relation to just chronological age and not biological age. Hence, growth references for the adolescent period have been of limited usefulness for monitoring individual growth in clinic and for research. Especially for children and adolescents with chronic diseases is there a need to better evaluate if changes in SD-scores just before a...

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway is critical for the regulation of hunger, energy balance, and weight regulation. Individuals who carry variants in MC4R pathway genes may present with early-onset severe obesity and hyperphagia. Historically, genetic testing in individuals with severe obesity has been limited. The Rare Obesity Advanced Diagnosis™ genetic testing program aims to enhance access to genetic testing for European individuals with suspected rare geneti...

Objectives: Modern treatments lead to increased survival rates from childhood cancer. Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are a growing population group, which is at high risk for cardiometabolic disorders including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is one of the major drivers of these adverse outcomes, resulted from corticosteroids, radiotherapy, sedentary behavior, and precancer obesity. Assessment of obesity could identify...

Objectives: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are a growing population group. Current oncology treatments have led to improved patient survival rates and an increase in late effects of treatment. Endocrine disturbances, such as pituitary insufficiency, thyroid dysfunction and obesity are the most common late endocrine effects of oncology treatments. The purpose of the study was to investigate the endocrine health of CCS and to record the prevalence of late endo...