ESPE Abstracts

Context: The early activation of adrenal zona reticularis, denoted by increased circulating levels of adrenal androgens before the age of eight years in girls is called premature adrenarche (PA), while the concomitant appearance of pubic hair is termed premature pubarche (PP). Girls with PA-PP display an unfavorable metabolic, hormonal and psychologic profile, compared to their normal peers and are also at an increased risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO...

Case description: A 14-year old boy with autoimmune hepatitis who was on long term oral steroids for 10 years, presented with acute onset lower back pain without preceding trauma. Lumbar spine radiograph showed severe osteopenia and compression fractures of vertebrae T12 to L1. Bone mineral density T-score at the lumbar region was −4.9. Biochemically, there was hypocalcaemia and severe hypophosphataemia with adjusted calcium 2.03 (2.20–2.65) mmol/l and phosphate 0.8...

Introduction: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is caused by inactivating mutation(s) within the gene for tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). Patients with the perinatal and infantile forms of HPP suffer rickets, poor growth, and delayed gross motor function. In 2012, we detailed significant improvement in skeletal mineralization and respiratory function in such patients treated for 1 year with asfotase alfa, a bone-targeted recombinant human TNSALP,1 and recentl...

Background: 21-Hydroxylase deficiency due to mutations in CYP21A2 represents the commonest form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Dyshormonogenetic congenital hypothyroidism (CH) may be due to TPO, TG, DUOX2, DUOXA2, IYD, SLC5A5 and SLC26A4 mutations.Objective and hypotheses: We report a kindred with three siblings born to unrelated parents manifesting with two different forms...

Background: Hyperuricaemia has been associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome in adults and children. Elevation in serum uric acid (SUA) is hypothesized to be a critical initiator of the development of essential hypertension. The exact relationship between SUA and blood pressure (BP) has not been established in the pediatric population. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the association between SUA and BP in well, obese/overweight and hype...

Paraneoplastic Cushing syndrome is extremely rare. To date, there are few reported cases related to Wilms' tumor. We describe a patient who presented with Cushing syndrome and was subsequently found to have Wilms' tumor. Our patient is a 9 year-old boy, who presented with hyperphagia and excessive weight gain for 3 months. His abdomen was also progressively bigger. There was no ingestion of steroids or traditional medication. Subsequently he sought medical advice becau...

Background: There is increasing recognition that the in utero environment might influence obesity risk.Objective and Hypotheses: We explored the hypothesis that smoking and alcohol consumption in pregnancy are associated with offspring body composition using the Southampton Women’s Survey mother-offspring birth cohort study.Method: At 34 weeks’ gestation, maternal smoking and any alcohol intake in the preceding 1...

Introduction: Compelling evidence suggests that Primary Aldosteronism (PA) is much more prevalent than previously thought, accounting for more than 20% of patients with resistant hypertension. Although, major advances have been made in the field of genetics underpinning sporadic and familial forms of PA, the etiology of mild forms of PA is poorly understood. In previous studies, we identified a distinct cohort of patients without PA who exhibited ACTH-dependen...

Background: In our center for adults with rare genetic syndromes, we see adolescents and young adults with overgrowth syndromes, among others. In our 'general endocrinology' outpatient clinic, we also see patients with overgrowth, but in these cases the overgrowth is due to excess of growth hormone (GH). Our clinical impression is that the differentiation between the two is often challenging. Therefore, we believe it is important to emphasize the dif...

Introduction: The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health1 highlights the importance of growth as a measurement of health and wellbeing in children. Growth measurements in children can only be evaluated if plotted on a growth chart. The use of growth charts was reviewed in Forth Valley Royal Hospital Paediatric department over 10 days in all clinics held in the paediatric outpatient department.Method: Case notes of all c...