ESPE Abstracts

Background: Although the transition from the pre-pubertal condition to puberty occurs physiologically within a bounded age range, recent data indicate a central role for epigenetics in the regulation of several genes that could mediate an alteration of pubertal onset. Moreover, changes occurring during this developmental stage have often been associated with susceptibility to a wide range of diseases in later life. To identify changes in DNA methylation profil...

Introduction: X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLHR) represents the most common form of genetic hypophosphatemia and causes rickets in children because of increased FGF23 secretion and renal phosphate wasting. Even though cranial vault an craniovertebral anomalies of potential neurosurgical interest, namely early closure of the cranial sutures and Chiari type I malformation (CM-I), have been observed in children with XLH, their actual incidence and character...

Background: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in PHEX gene and characterized by low phosphate levels and impaired bone mineralization. Burosumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), has emerged as a crucial therapy for XLH management, increasing serum phosphate levels and improving bone health. Recent studies indicate that inflammation may play a crucial role in the XLH complications...

Background: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH; “small head syndrome”) is a rare, heterogeneous disease arising from the decreased production of neurons during brain development. 25 genes are implicated in causing MCPH among them the RTTN gene. Here we present the case of a boy from two unrelated parents presenting with a complex phenotype carrying a novel mutation in the RTTN gene.Case Pr...

Background: Carney complex (CNC) is a rare autosomal dominant multiple endocrine neoplasia and lentiginosis syndrome, characterized by abnormal cutaneous and mucosal pigmentation, myxomas of the heart, skin, breast and other non-endocrine tumors. CNC is principally caused by loss-of-function mutations of PRKAR1A gene located at 17q22-24 coding for the regulatory subunit type I alpha of protein kinase A (PKA) gene. Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder in...

Introduction: PROKR2 is a 384-amino acid G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) that regulates GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus. PROKR2 mutations have been described as cause of a certain percentage of of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome.In 2017 a heterozygous frameshift gain of function mutation of PROKR2 was identified in a 3.5-year-old girl with central precocious puberty (CPP).The aim of our st...

Introduction: Heterozygous mutations in IHH are known to cause Brachydactyly type A1 (BDA1), in which the typical clinical features are bilaterally short-ening or absence of the middle phalanges of most digits of hands and feet, shortness of 1st proximal bone and short stature; althougt short stature is considered part of BDA1, in most reported cases is not always present or unrelevant compared to the stature of unaffected relatives. Recently heterozygous mutations ...

Background: Growth Hormone Insensitivity (GHI) is usually caused by mutations in the Growth Hormone receptor (GHR). Patients present with short stature associated with high GH and low IGF-I levels and often have midfacial hypoplasia (typical Laron syndrome facial features). Our centre previously described the first GHR pseudoexon mutation (42700896A>G, c. 618+792A>G). The inclusion of this 108bp pseudoexon is predicted to lead to in-frame insertion of...

Background: The N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) A803G polymorphism leading to substitution of lysine to arginine at residue 268 and codifying for a cytosolic enzyme catalysing acetyl-CoA-dependent N- and O-acetylation reactions, has been associated with decreased insulin sensitivity in a large adult population with the A allele associated with insulin resistance (IR)-related traits.Objective and hypotheses: We screened for this polymorphism, for th...

Background: The phenotype of SHOX aploinsufficiency is highly variable also in affected members of the same family with broad differences in severity of short stature, disproportion, presence of Madelung deformity.Case presentation: We present a family with a new mutation of SHOX gene. A 2.3 years old girl, born at term from unrelated parents, came to our observation for short stature. Her height was −2.02 SDS, arm span was normal, sitting heigh/he...