ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: ABCD syndrome is characterized by hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and renal impairment, generally under 4 years old. This is a rare cause of pediatric hypercalcemia with only 7 cases published, but it is believed to be underdiagnosed. The suspected mechanism would be associated with overexpression of transient receptor potential channels (TRP) that modulate intestinal absorption of calcium, since TRP-M2 is encoded on chromosome 2...

Background: Lately, pediatric gender services have been confronted with a steep and unexplained increase of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youngsters seeking psychological support and eventually medical care. We report on the evolution of referrals to our clinic for first psychological assessment and the rates of medical transition.Methods: The whole cohort of youngsters undergoing a first psychological intake betw...

Introduction: Growth failure represents a clinical challenge in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). rhGH proved to be effective to enhance growth in patients (p) under conservative treatment (CT), dialysis (D), or after renal transplantation (RT).Aims: To report the results of rhGH treatment (GHT) in pediatric patients with CKD over the last 30 years in a single pediatric tertiary center. Study rhGH effectiveness...

Background: Recent studies suggest that osteocalcin (OC) promotes glucose and lipid metabolism via ACAM, integrin αVβ3, GLUT1 and GLUT8 expression, directly affecting adipocytes. OC represents a link between bone and glucose metabolism; it stimulates insulin and stimulates pancreatic β-cells proliferation through Gprc6a receptor. Low levels of OC were observed in adult patients with Type 2 DM suggesting an association with glucose into...

Introduction: Among girls assessed for pubertal precocity, pelvic ultrasound (pUS) may represent a pivotal tool to predict the time expected to elapse between sonographic assessment and the onset of menarche (TUS-M). Accordingly, the present analysis is meant to define the statistical relationship between sonographic parameters and TUS-M, in order to identify the most reliable predictor of the timing of menarche.<st...

Background: The individual growth response on a certain GH dose is an indirect measurement of tissue responsiveness to GH. Several models of predicting the first year growth response on GH treatment are published and a clinical trial has been performed based on these algorithms. However, no clinical unit has evaluated the practical use of these prediction models on GH treatment.Objective and Hypotheses: To use prediction models in clinical practice to ch...

Background: The increasing number of transgender adolescents presenting in early puberty requires to investigate the effects of long-term puberty suppression and gender-affirming hormones (GAH) on body composition and metabolism. Clinical studies have ethical and practical limitations. A preclinical mouse model may be helpful to gain mechanistic insights.Methods: Prepubertal (4week-old) female mice were treated with the ...

Background: Transgender individuals increasingly present at gender services in childhood. Consequently, to suppress pubertal development, more adolescents are long-term exposed to gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa), from onset of puberty until start of gender-affirming hormones (GAH), around 16 years. Prolonged GnRHa may compromise bone health more than shorter-term treatment. If earlier start of GAH, when psychologically indicated, may partially...

Introduction: Bone fragility or predisposition to fractures with low-impact energy is a rare but potentially limiting condition. Variations in PLS3 gene are a cause of monogenic osteoporosis due to the alteration of osteoclast and osteocyte function and bone mineralization. It is characterized by early-onset osteoporosis, peripheral fractures, vertebral compression fractures and thoracic kyphosis. Due to its X-linked inheritance, the phenotype is more severe i...

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been found in up to 50% of adolescents and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). High fracture risk has been described in adult PWS patients. However, the mechanism/s of low BMD in PWS have not been clarified. These patients also display high BMI-SDS that prompted us to evaluate the levels of LIGHTTNFSF14, a cytokine involved in pathological bone remodeling and obesity.Objecti...