ESPE Abstracts

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta / Ehlers–Danlos (OI/EDS) overlap syndrome is a rare and recently described disorder of connective tissue, characterized by mutation of COL1A1 (17q21.33) or COL1A2 (7q21.3) genes, involved in alpha-1 and alpha-2 chains of type 1 collagen synthesis. Patients with OI/EDS overlap syndrome could show a phenotype characterized by features of both osteogenesis imperfecta (bone fragility, long bone fractures, blue sclerae, sho...

Background: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are often due to disruption of the genetic programs that regulate gonad development. Some genes have been identified in these developmental pathways such as DAX-1, SOX-9, GATA-4 and others. The GATA-4 gene, located on chromosome 8p23.1, encodes GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA-4), a transcription factor that is essential for cardiac and gonadal development and sexual differentiation. Congenital heart disease (CHD) and...

Of the 67 included DSD patients, 33% were HSCs. 68% women and 32% men, with a total concordance between legal sex, current gender and chromosomal sex. Median age: 10.5 years, IQR 8-14. The most frequent clinical form was non-classical (NC) 45.5%, followed by classical with saline loss (CPS) 41%. The distribution of each clinical form according to the karyotype is significant (P = 0.013), the most frequent with XY karyotype is CPS and in NC forms all cases are XX. Med...

Objective: To describe clinical, laboratory and genetic characteristics of 42 short children from 34 consanguineous Turkish families.Design: Descriptive case series.Methods: After collecting clinical information, DNA samples were analysed in three European laboratories. In 18 children (12 families) suspected of a genetic defect in the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor ...

Background: Fatty liver disease is diagnosed increasingly in obese children, which pathophysiology remains unexplained. Risk factors as insulin resistance, evolution of steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia, should be taken into consideration in its development.Objective and hypotheses: To analyse the prevalence of hepatic steatosis identified by ultrasound, as well as features and anthropometric data in our population divided into 2 groups: with steatosis ...

Background: Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a rare form of treatment-resistant morbid obesity associated with congenital or acquired hypothalamic damage. Its pathophysiology has been attributed to hyperphagia and hyperinsulinaemia. The wider roles of oxytocin (OXT) in regulating appetite and weight have recently emerged in animal and human studies, but there is no human evidence that hypo-oxytocinaemia contributes to weight gain.Hypothesis: Hypo-oxytocina...

Background: Mouse studies have demonstrated the necessity of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) for normal proliferation of Rathke’s pouch (RP) precursors. However, the possible function of SHH in pituitary cell specification remains to be assessed. Additionally, evidence suggests that SHH may be relevant in human adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP), a histologically benign, but clinically aggressive childhood tumour associated with high morbidity.Objective ...

Background: IGSF1 deficiency has been recently found to be a novel cause of x-linked central hypothyroidism, macroorchidism and delayed puberty.Case presentation: We present a family, in which the proband was diagnosed with congenital central hypothyroidism by neonatal screening and treated accordingly. Further pituitary examination revealed an unmeasurable prolactin level, normal IGF1, normal cortisol and no abnormalities of the pituitary on MRI. The pa...

Background: Concerns about a child's growth are one of the most common topics parents express during pediatric visits and are a leading cause for referral to a pediatric endocrinologist. For the general pediatric, when short stature is diagnosed, its clinical management remains a challenge.Objective: The aim of the study was to approach and understand the perception from the general pediatrician about short stature,...

Management of type 1 diabetes in preschool children is a huge challenge for their caregivers. Age-specific factors (e.g. unpredictable food intake and physical activity, small insulin doses, high insulin sensitivity, frequent intercurrent infections, high variability in insulin requirements) increase the complexity of daily diabetes management. Furthermore, the preschool child depends completely on his/her caregiver. To meet recommended treatment targets while avoiding hypogly...