ESPE Abstracts

Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by small growing ovarian follicles. It inhibits both FSH induced maturation of follicles as well as aromatase activity. Genetic variation of AMH signalling is associated with age at menopause and circulating oestradiol levels, i.e. AMH rs10407022 T>G (intragenic) and AMHR2 rs11170547 C>T (putative enhancer).Objective and hypotheses: This present study aims to investigate ...

Background: The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway is a key regulator of energy balance and satiety. Variants in genes upstream of MC4R encoding leptin receptor (LEPR), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1(PCSK1) and those involved in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) can impair MC4R pathway signaling. Clinically, these variants are characterized by hyperphagia (Pathologic insatiable hunger) and early-onset, severe obesity. E...

Background: Clinical outcome data of patients with adrenal insufficiency, who were affected by COVID-19, have been collected as a common initiative by the ESE Rare Disease Committee and ENDO-ERN via the European Registries for Rare Endocrine Conditions (EuRRECa) project. Methods: This Webropol-based questionnaire included a total of 32 questions collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Of the 19 medical centres out ...

Introduction: The survival rates for childhood cancer have significantly increased over the past decades but the management of treatment-related complications remains challenging. Thus, the introduction of novel drugs requires careful investigation of potential off-target side effects. The developing skeleton is severely affected by the anticancer treatment which may result in growth retardation and short stature. Venetoclax is a selective Bcl-2 inhibitor whic...

Rationale: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major complication of preterm birth, which pathophysiology involves systematic inflammation. Preterm infants commonly suffer from relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in their first week of life, resulting in an insufficient production of cortisol inappropriate for the degree of inflammation. One of the major causes of RAI is immaturity of adrenal cortex enzymes, leading to an accumulation of cortisol precursors...

Disorders or Differences of sex development (DSD) are a heterogeneous group of congenital conditions, involving variations of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical development. Diagnosis is based on clinical, biochemical, imaging and genetic evaluation. In recent years knowledge about genetic causes has increased, mainly due to improved genetic techniques. In this study we investigated the yield of exome sequencing in our patients with DSD. Patients and methods: Genetic i...

Background: In boys with suspected delayed puberty, serum testosterone is used for the evaluation of gonadal function. It is known that early in puberty testosterone levels show a sleep wake rhythm, with nocturnal levels increasing ahead of daytime levels. To evaluate the onset of puberty, the use of salivary testosterone would be an appealing alternative to serum analysis as it is non-invasive and allows multiple nocturnal sampling. Moreover, it is thought that salivary testo...

Background: Percutaneous epiphysiodesis (PE) around the knee is the treatment of choice in the Netherlands to reduce predicted excessive final height. Studies until now are limited, had small numbers of patients and short follow-up periods.Objective and hypotheses: This nationwide Dutch long-term retrospective follow-up study aimed to assess final height (FH), complications and satisfaction after PE. Primary hypothesis was: ‘The PE around the knee i...

Background: Characterization of testicular adrenal rest tumours (TART) are one of the major long-term complications in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients. Although several adrenal-like properties have been assigned to these benign lesions, the exact etiology has not been established yet.Objective and Hypotheses: The aim of this study was to analyze several (steroidogenic) characteristics of TART tissue which may be classified as adrenal cortex...

Background: Subtle impairments in the thyroid function of pregnant women are associated with poorer scores on mental developmental scales in their children at age 2–3 years, and with reduced performance in a simple reaction time test at 5–6 years. However, associations with school performance estimates have never been studied.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to assess the effect of normal variation in the maternal thyroid function during earl...