ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: The mechanisms underlying short stature in Noonan Syndrome (NS) are poorly understood and may include inadequate GH secretion or action, decreased IGF-1 production, growth plate dysfunction, or other factors. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the function of the GH-IGF-1 axis in NS.Method: We took all patients with genetically proven Noonan syndrome among 1001 children and adolescents curren...

Background: The genetic etiology of SGA-SS spans from abnormalities of the GH-IGF-1 axis, growth plate disorders, and defective fundamental intracellular/intranuclear processes, to imprinting conditions. We recently elucidated the genetic etiology in a large cohort of 74 children SGA-SS (Toni L et al, Horm Res Pediat 2024; 97(1): 40-52). Of these, 49 have already completed five years of daily GH therapy.Aim: To analyze 5...

Context: In the diagnosis of permanent GH deficiency (GHD) during the transition phase, the 2019 AACE guidelines recommended peak GH-cutoffs of ≤3µg/L and ≤1µg/L for the glucagon test (GST), while a recent investigation identified a value <5.8μg/L as a suitable gold standard (Fava et al, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2024). However, the clinical applicability of this cutoff remains to be confirmed and the potential c...

Introduction: Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by absent, thin, or interrupted pituitary stalk, absent or ectopic neurohypophysis, and hypoplasia or aplasia of the adenohypophysis. It often accompanies midline abnormalities and diverse endocrine dysfunction, with its etiology largely unknown. Recent reports have linked mutations in the ROBO1 gene to PSIS.Aim: To des...

Background: Wilms' Tumor Suppressor Gene 1 (WT1) plays an essential role in urogenital and kidney development. Germline variants in WT1 are associated with life-threatening glomerulopathy, disorders of gonadal development in both 46,XY and 46,XX individuals, Wilms tumor, and gonadal malignancies. Phenotypic overlap among 46,XY affected subjects has been frequently observed and there is still scarce information regarding renal involvement...

Background: The benefit of re-screening at 15 days of life in infants born to mothers with thyroid diseases (TD+) is a debated issue. In Italy, all the 16 newborn screening (NBS) laboratories use TSH measurement on dried blood spot as primary screening test for primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and adopt a 2-screen strategy in special categories of infants at risk of delayed TSH rise (preterm birth, admission to NICU, extra-thyroidal malformations, twinni...

Background: Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets (HHR) comprises a group of rare disorders characterized by renal phosphate wasting and impaired vitamin D metabolism. Numerous genetic defects can underlie this condition, with the X-linked dominant form (XLHR) being the most prevalent (1 in 20,000 individuals) resulting from inactivating variants in the PHEX gene.Aim: To characterize a large cohort of 99 argentini...

Introduction: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are metabolic conditions resulting from defects in the glycosylation pathway. In addition to the primary neurological symptoms, other possible clinical findings may include distinctive coagulation abnormalities, as well as hepatic, gastrointestinal and, less frequently, hormonal disorders. The ALG1 gene defect is the third most prevalent CDG and compromises β-1,4 mannosyltransferase activity, which...

Background and Aims: A pre-clinical stage of type 1 diabetes (T1D) often precedes by many years the overt clinical symptoms. Diagnosis during this period is often difficult and is based on the presence of specific islet autoantibodies in the subject's blood. First-degree relatives of patients with T1D were tested using the 3 Screen ICA TM ELISA (RSR Ltd) for combined testing for autoantibodies to GAD65 (glutamic acid decarboxylase, 65kDa isoform), ZnT8 (z...

Background: Genetic causes of central precocious puberty (CPP) has been increasingly recognized, extending our knowledge of the triggering factors of human pubertal timing. Distinct etiologies remain to be elucidated in sporadic and familial cases. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) is a chromatin-associated protein that can activate or repress gene transcription, playing a role in neuronal maturation. It is encoded by MECP2 gene located at chromoso...