ESPE Abstracts

Background: Though the genes and signalling pathways involved in sexual development have only been partially elucidated, it is known that their disruption can result in disorders of sexual development (DSD). XX ovarian dysgenesis (XX-OD) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by underdeveloped and dysfunctional ovaries. We previously identified a novel missense mutation in Nucleoporin107 (Nup107, c.1339G>A, p.D447N), an essential compo...

Homozygous loss-of-function mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor gene (CaSR) are associated with neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT), a life-threatening condition with a challenging treatment approach.We report a 7-day-old-female infant who was admitted to our Pediatric Department due to poor sucking. On examination she was lethargic and hypotonic. Laboratory evaluation revealed extreme hypercalcemia of 23.54 mg/dL (N: 7.6–10.4...

Background: NKX2-2 gene mutation (reported in 3 cases worldwide) cause severe IUGR and neonatal diabetes. Beta-cells of the mice Nkx2-2 (−/−) model were recently shown to convert into cells producing the appetite-promoting peptide ghrelin. Classically, ghrelin secretion is stimulated during fast and suppressed by nutrients or glucose ingestion in all age groups. In obese children this ghrelin suppression reaches a minimum of 60% of base...

Introduction: The term lipodystrophy describes a rare disease subdivided into a heterogenous group of even rarer subforms. The rarity of this disease makes research in this area extremely difficult and international co-operation is mandatory to accumulate data sets of sufficient size. The European Consortium of Lipodystrophy (ECLip) consisting of an association of European experts in the field of lipodystrophy has therefore decided to set up a registry for patients with lipody...

Introduction: Pubertal growth is hormone dependent. The anthropometric (height, weight) and sexual (Tanner stage (TS)) changes are accompanied by growth in foot length. However, the relationship between changes in foot length and other anthropometry remains unclear. Our aim was to determine how changes in foot length relate to growth parameters (height and weight), self-rated TS and serum sex steroids.Methods: We used data from the Adolescent Rural Cohor...

Background: SGA is defined as birth weight under 2 standard deviations (SD) from the mean. Previous studies indicate that 10% of SGA babies do not have “catch-up growth” (CUG). They are eligible for growth hormone (GH) therapy to increase final height. The unexpected low demand for GH therapy in SGA babies, triggered us to survey the actual incidence of SGA and failure in CUG.Objective and hypotheses: To find the actual incidence of SGA and fai...

Background: Diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is delayed in developing countries and children are long exposed to high levels of androgens. These androgens have deleterious effect on heart.Objective and hypotheses: Evaluate cardiac function of children followed for CAH and compared it to a group of healthy children.Method: We carried out a case-control study, 1 case for 2 controls matched for age and genotypic sex, ...

Background: 5-alpha-reductase-2 (5α-RD2) deficiency is an autosomal recessive 46,XY disorder of sexual development, characterized by undervirilized prepubertal males with ambiguous genitalia. The pubertal rise in testosterone and 5α-RD1 isoenzyme activity causes virilization, often resulting in gender assignment change. Early precise diagnosis which anticipate adult function is critical for treatment and gender assignment.Objective and hypothes...

Background: Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) gene mutations have been recently shown to cause familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD), by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification in adrenocortical cells. Affected infants present within the first few months with isolated glucocorticoid deficiency.Objective and Hypotheses: To study the genetic etiology of four cases presenting uniquely with neonatal addisonian crisis (both min...

Background: Calculation of a urinary steroid metabolite ratio (uSMR) may be a useful method of improving diagnostic yield when investigating disorders of steroid hormone synthesis. Our aim was to investigate the range of uSMR in children with suspected disorders of steroid hormone synthesis.Methods: Ten ratios were calculated on steroid metabolite data analysed by GC-MS in urine samples collected between 2008 and 2010 from 94 children who were undergoing...