ESPE Abstracts

Background: The sonic hedgehog pathway (SHH) regulates CNS development and mutations or abnormal expression of the SHH pathway genes have been identified in epithelial tumors. SHH pathway interacts with Wnt/β-catenin signalling. To date, CTNNB1/β-catenin mutations are the sole molecular abnormality found in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas (ACPs).Objective and Hypotheses: To analyze the expression pattern of SHH pathway genes in ACPs and its...

Objective: Craniopharyngioma is a benign brain tumour with frequent local recurrence after treatment. Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) is prescribed in children with growth hormone deficiency due to childhood-onset craniopharyngioma. The objective was to evaluate whether shorter time delay of GHRT initiation after childhood-onset craniopharyngioma completion therapy increased the risk of recurrence.Design: Our r...

Background: Subtle phenotypic differences have previously been described among children with varied genetic subtypes of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) – 15q11-q13 paternal microdeletion, maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD), and rare imprinting center defects. The MKRN3 gene, located on 15q11.2, is a master regulator of pubertal initiation and is a candidate gene for abnormal pubertal development in PWS.Objective and hy...

Objective: Most children with short stature remain without an etiologic diagnosis after extensive clinical and laboratory evaluation and are classified as idiopathic short stature (ISS). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of a multigene gene analysis in children classified as ISS.Design and Methods: We selected 102 children with ISS and performed the genetic analysis as part of the initial investigation. ...

Background: Hypopituitarism is characterized by deficiency of one or more anterior pituitary hormones. POU1F1 mutations are the second most frequent known cause of combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). Patients are typically deficient in GH, TSH, and prolactin, although two unrelated cases were reported with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD). To date, all POU1F1 mutations have been reported for the predominantly expressed alpha isoform, which is a transcr...

Background: Congenital GH deficiency (GHD) can be isolated (IGHD) or combined with other pituitary hormone deficiencies (CPHD). The identification of mutations has clinical implications for the management of patients and genetic counseling1.Objective: To prospectively conduct a molecular-genetic analysis in genes associated with IGHD or CPHD.Method: Forty patients with IGHD (n=8) or CPHD (n=32) were stu...

Objective: KIGS (Pfizer International Growth Survey) was a large, international database of pediatric patients who received recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) as prescribed in real-world clinical settings. This analysis evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy data from all participants until KIGS close in 2012.Methods: Children with growth disorders and treated with rhGH (Genotropin® [somatropin]...

Background: Brain tumours are the most frequent solid tumours during childhood. Many of these patients develop endocrine disorders.Objective: To describe our cohort of patients with primary brain tumours, followed in the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit at Hôpital Universitaire Necker–Enfants Malades, Paris, France between 2010–2015, to assess current practice and propose recommendations.Methods: Retrospective a...

Introduction: Primary brain tumors are the second most common childhood malignancies, with an increasing survival rate over the years. Late effects on puberty and fertility alter survivors’ quality of life.Methods: We included 204 patients diagnosed with a primary brain tumor before 18 years, followed in pediatric endocrinology at the University Hospital “Necker-Enfants Malades” in Paris between January 20...

Background: 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD) is a spectrum disorder which lead to variable degrees of atypical external genitalia, ranging from female to micropenis and absent of gonadal tissue (known as Embryonic Testicular Regression Syndrome -ETRS). Most patients with 46,XY GD remains without a molecular diagnosis.Objective: To report the DEAH-box helicase 37 gene (DHX37) as a novel candidate for the GD etiology.Patients a...