ESPE Abstracts

Background: Differences of sex development (DSDs) (conditions with atypical development of chromosomal, gonadal or anatomic sex) are classified into three groups: sex chromosome DSD, 46,XYDSD and 46,XX DSD. Around 1 newborn in 5000 presents ambiguous genitalia with a major challenge for male or female assignment. The identification of a genetic cause can contribute to a correct diagnosis and to optimize both management and genetic counselling.<p class="abs...

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum of clinicopathological conditions frequently discovered in obese patients and characterized by multifactorial pathogenesis. Hypoadiponectinaemia and higher interleukin (IL)-6 levels has been related to NAFLD, even if some contradictory findings have emphasized our incomplete understanding of the role of the cytokines in NAFLD.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the relations...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI; MIM #256450) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycaemia in children. Recessive inactivating mutations in KATP channel subunits, encoded by ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes, are the most common cause of CHI. Mutations of these genes usually cause forms of CHI which in the vast majority of patients are unresponsive to first line medical treatment with diazoxide. Multiple daily standard octreotide injections combine...

Background: IGF1R mutations are characterized by IGF-1 resistance causing impaired fetal and postnatal growth. Several reports in children with heterozygous defects of IGF1R have demonstrated a variable phenotype, which can be associated to microcephaly, dismorphic features and mild developmental delay.Case presentation: We report of an 8-years-old boy, who came at our observation with short stature (−3.2 SDS) and mild microcephal...

Background: Data on metabolic effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) therapy are still controversial.Objective and hypotheses: To longitudinally evaluate the effect of GnRHa therapy on BMI, glycaemic metabolism and lipid profile in children affected by idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP).Method: This longitudinal retrospective study included data from 42 children (7.70±0.80 years, 2 males) affected b...

Background: Gonadal dysgenesis may be rarely associated with precocious puberty (PP) and development of gonadoblastoma. In these patients cases of peripheral PP have been reported. On the contrary, a central PP has been very rarely described.Objective and hypotheses: To describe a female with central PP associated with a bilateral gonadoblastoma.Results: A 8 year and 5 month old phenotypically female child, presenting suspected PP ...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to reduce insulin sensitivity in Turner girls, however a compensatory increase of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells usually occurs, probably stimulated by GH itself. Oral disposition index (ODI) express the capacity of beta cells to adapt to insulin sensitivity.Objective and hypotheses: To study longitudinally the insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S), the insulin secretion (IGI) and the ODI in a group of gi...

Background: Renal abnormalities are estimated to be present in 30–40% of Turner Syndrome (TS). Monosomic patients have a reported greater risk for renal anomalies.Objective: To assess the frequency of renal malformations in TS according to karyotype; and report related complications at most recent follow up.Methods: The medical records of 182 patients with TS born between 1970 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.<p clas...

Background: Reduced growth is a common feature in RASopathies. Poor data are available about pubertal spurt and the effect on final height (FH) in patients with these disorders.Objective and hypotheses: To study growth, body proportions, pubertal pattern, and FH including subject treated with GH-therapy for proven GH deficiency.Method: We analized growth trend and body proportions in 88 patients affected by RASopathies with molecul...

Background: Pubertal growth, age of puberty onset and pubertal spurt duration are correlated to final height (FH). Few data are available in subjects with rare genetic syndromes.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate pubertal pattern and its influence on FH in subjects with different genetic syndromes including the effect of GH-therapy for GH deficiency (GHD) and GnRH analogs for precocious puberty (PP).Method: We studied for growth...