ESPE Abstracts

Background: Genetic defects in NKX2.1 (chromosome 14q13) are associated with hypothyroidism, choreo-athetotic movements and respiratory distress, known as the “Brain-Lung-Thyroid syndrome”.Objective and hypotheses: To identify the genetic basis of a disorder compatible with the “NKX2.1 syndrome” and extra features outside the typical triad.Patients and methods: 10-year old girl with congenital ...

Background: Ovotesticular DSD is a rare disorder defined by the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissues in the same individual. SRY is present in approximately 1/3 of patients with 46, XX ovotesticular DSD. In SRY-negative ovotesticular DSD, the mechanism responsible for the presence of testicular tissue is not yet understood.Case presentation: A male patient was referred to us for hypospadias and bilateral cryptorchidism at 2.5...

Background: Osteoporosis is a complex disorder, influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Primary osteoporosis is a rare early onset disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to be involved in the regulation of bone remodeling.Case: Native Argentinean boy born from a consanguineous family with history of retinal detachment in the maternal line. Delivered at term, birth weight 2900 g (−0.95 SDS), bi...

Background: Human IGF1 gene defects are characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, sensorineural deafness, microcephaly and intellectual disability. Seven cases have been reported so far, and the underlying pathophysiology has been characterized in only three.Objective: To describe a patient with severe short stature presenting a novel homozygous IGF1 gene mutation and its underlying pathogenic mechanism.<p clas...

Longitudinal growth is driven by endochondral ossification at the growth plate, where chondrocytes undergo a well-organized cellular differentiation process from stem-like progenitors to rapidly-proliferating transit-amplifying cells and to hypertrophic chondrocytes. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated that epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in human development and childhood growth. For example, Brachydactyly mental retardation syndrome (BDMR) is caused by hap...

Background: Determining fat mass (FM) using methods of body composition analysis is useful in diagnosis and treatment of obese adolescents who undergo life style intervention. The use of dual-energy X-ray absorption (DXA) is time-consuming, potentially harmful and expensive. Alternative methods for accurately estimating FM are needed.Objective and hypotheses: We evaluated single-frequency arm-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis at 50 kHz (sf-BIA) in ...

Background: Recently we demonstrated that male adolescents with severe GHD (sGHD) had a significant decrease of lean body mass and increase in fat mass after stop of GH-therapy. The functional consequence of this observation is unknown.Objective and hypotheses: The aim was to study the changes in parameters of jumping mechanography in adolescents with GHD in the transition period (end of growth) after stop of GH-therapy.Patients an...

Background: Male adolescents with severe GH deficiency show both loss of lean body mass (LBM) and gain of fat free mass (FFM) when off GH treatment. We recently showed that determining gain of FFM and loss of LBM by dual-energy x-ray absorption (DXA) is helpful in the diagnosis of severe GHD during transition as these body composition changes are correlated to the GH-peak of the arginine-GHRH-re-test.Objective and hypotheses: We wanted to explore if the ...

Background: Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide analogue which was approved for use in children and young people as an option for managing obesity in December 20201. It is to be used in tier 3 services alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in children more than 12 years if they have a BMI SDS age-equivalent more than 30kg/m2 for adults. We describe our initial experiences of using liraglutide in a tier 3 paed...

Background: Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation (ROHHAD) is a rare syndrome with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Blood glucose dysregulation is not widely recognised as a feature of ROHHAD and the mechanism is not well understood. We describe glucose dysregulation in two children with ROHHAD syndrome.Case 1: The patient presented at 6 years with rapid w...