ESPE Abstracts

Background: Mutations in the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD 3) result in 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD). Biochemical hallmark of 17βHSD 3 deficiency is a Testosterone/Androstenedione ratio (T/A ratio) <0.8. 17βHSD 3 mutations have been associated with a wide spectrum of phenotypes, ranging from under-virilized male to a female appearance of genitalia at birth. Indeed, 17βHSD 3 deficiency in prepubertal patients is often clinicall...

Background: Recent studies demonstrate that children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) may develop visceral adiposity and insulin-resistance. Data on adipocytokines are scanty and contradictory.Objective: To evaluate leptin and adiponectin concentrations in CAH adolescents and investigate their correlation with glucocorticoids and hormonal and metabolic profile.Methods: Leptin, adiponectin, insulin and HOMA were evaluated i...

Background: Hypothalamic hamartomas(HH)-rare heterotopic congenital malformations (incidence 1:200 000)-present with central precocious puberty (CPP) or gelastic seizures (GS) but their natural history and best treatment strategy are unknown. Given their proximity to the hypothalamus–pituitary axis, wider endocrine dysfunction may be expected.Objective and hypotheses: To describe clinical features and any evolving endocrinopathies in HH patients, by...

Background: The effects of GH deficiency (GHD) and GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on body composition and functional measures of physical fitness are largely unknown particularly in children.Study aim: To evaluate body composition, muscular strength and flexibility, and exercise tolerance in GHD children at baseline and after one-year GHRT.Patients and methods: We enrolled 19 children and adolescents with untreated ...

Aim: The objective of the study was to determine bone mineralisation density in Turner syndrome (TS) from DSD life cohort, and to analyse the trabecular (lumbar spine = LS) and cortical bone (femoral neck = FN) mineralisation.Materials and Methods: This study was part of the DSD-LIFE study, a cross-sectional clinical outcome study of the BMD of TS adult patients from paediatric cohorts. BMD of the LS and FN were ...

Background: Juvenile Pagets disease (JPD), an ultra-rare, debilitating bone disease stemming from unopposed RANKL action due to loss of functional osteoprotegerin (OPG) is caused by recessive mutations in TNFRSF11B. A genotype-phenotype correlation spanning from mild to very severe forms is described.Objective and hypotheses: To describe the complexity of the human phenotype of OPG deficiency in more detail and to investigate heterozygous mutation carrie...

Background: Pituitary gland duplication is a very rare developmental abnormality. It is often associated with other midline anomalies including cleft palate, spinal cord and corpus callosum defects, termed duplication of the pituitary gland-plus syndrome. Of the only 40 cases reported in the literature, most are in females and are often associated with precocious puberty. Duplication of the pituitary gland may arise from blastogenesis defects, with splitting o...

Background: Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) in children is rare and aggressive, with the mainstay of treatment being surgical resection, although there have been recent improvements in outcomes with chemotherapy. Further characterisation of the presenting features and biochemical markers are needed to support earlier diagnosis. Refractory hypertension related to high cortisol concentrations prior to surgery, and post-operative decrease in cortisol can be chal...

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: Bone involvement is described as a relevant sign in patients suffering Gaucher disease (GD).Objective and hypotheses: To analyze the long-term effect of enzyme replacement therapy on bone mineral density, a retrospective observational study was conducted in a cohort of 34 GD pediatric patients (14 males, 20 females, median age 11.3 years).Method: Lumbar spine (LS) (L2–L4, N: 34) and total body (TB) (N: 24) bone min...