ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: The Newborn Screening Programme (NBS) enables earlier diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, cases of central congenital hypothyroidism (CCH) are missed in countries which use thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) based screening strategy. Understanding the pathogenic aetiology of CCH is particularly important because many patients have additional pituitary hormone deficiencies. New genes have been implicated in CCH, including the rece...

Background: Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, is commonly used in diazoxide unresponsive congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) patients as a second line medication. However, there are no large studies evaluating long-term follow-up CHI patients on octreotide therapy.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the dose range, side effects and long-term follow-up in CHI patients on daily octreotide injections.Method: Twenty-eight...

Background: Automimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is an extremely rare autoimmune condition caused by AIRE (autoimmune regulator) gene mutations and characterised by a classic triad of 1) chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, 2) hypoparathyroidism and 3) adrenal insufficiency. APECED can involve any endocrine or non-endocrine organ. Consequently, clinicians need to be mindful of the great variability in presentation. Although ad...

Introduction: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare neurological condition characterized by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in the absence of hydrocephalus, brain parenchymal lesion, vascular malformation, or central nervous system (CNS) infection. Hyperthyroidism is a rare but known cause of raised ICP in children and adults, with only a few case reports in the paediatric population. We describe a 7-year-old boy with IIH associated with hype...

Background: Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome caused by haemorrhage of the pituitary gland, typically characterised by acute confusion, headache, vomiting and visual disturbance. It is regarded as a medical emergency. It is rare in childhood and adolescence, occurring in association with pituitary tumours. We report an unusual case of pituitary apoplexy associated with a cerebral infarction secondary to internal carotid artery compression.<p class=...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) causes severe hypoglycaemia in children, due to dysregulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Glucagon, secreted from the pancreatic α-cells, is critical for blood glucose homeostasis. Somatostatin is secreted by Δ-cells of the islets and by extraislet neuroendocrine cells. Exogenous somatostatin potently inhibits insulin and glucagon release from pancreatic islets. Under normal physiological conditions, low...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) has two main histological subtypes: diffuse and focal. Diffuse HH are most commonly due to recessive or dominant ABCC8/KCNJ11 mutations. Focal HH results due to somatic loss of the maternal 11p allele involving the ABCC8 and KCNJ11 region in patients with paternally inherited ABCC8 or KCNJ11 mutation.Aim: To molecular characterise a novel non-stop KCNJ11</em...

Introduction: Acromesomelic dysplasia, type Maroteaux (AMDM) is a rare autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia, characterized by severe dwarfism and disproportionate shortening of the extremities, predominantly affecting middle and distal limb segments. It results from loss-of-function mutations affecting the C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) receptor (NPR-B), a transmembrane guanylyl cyclase receptor encoded by the NPR2 gene. Resistance to growth hormo...

Background: The gene expression microarray and morphoproteomics in diffuse congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) revealed activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and the subsequent treatment of four diffuse CHI patients with sirolimus (mTOR inhibitor) avoided pancreatectomy.Objective and hypotheses: To further evaluate the mechanism of action of sirolimus by studying the expression of mTORC1/RagGTPase and IGF1R/mTORC2/Akt pathways in pa...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) can be transient or permanent. Transient HH (spontaneous resolution of HH within few weeks) is associated with intrauterine growth restriction, maternal diabetes, erythroblastosis fetalis etc. Transient HH has not been reported with ABCC8/KCNJ11 mutations, which are the commonest cause of HH.Aim: Molecular characterisation of a novel ABCC8 mutation associated with a transient HH phenotype seen in a family ...