ESPE Abstracts

Background: Sitosterolaemia, or phytosterolaemia, is a disorder of increased plant sterol levels in the body leading to a variable presentation including hypercholesteremia, xanthoma, atherosclerosis and haematological manifestations. Although considered rare, the prevalence is likely underestimated due to the variable phenotype. It is caused by recessively inherited mutations in ABCG5 or ABCG8 which encode the sterol efflux transporters in the gut. Hyperchole...

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant, variably expressed, multisystem disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 1000–2500. In 2001, PTPN11 was the first gene associated to Noonan syndrome; now, at least 20 other genes have been discovered especially in the RAS–MAPK signalling pathway. More recently, missense mutations in RIT1 have been reported as causative of NS. A six-years female patient was referred to our Hospital for short stature (<-2 sds) an...

Background and Aims: Initial presentation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with different level of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Four pancreatic islet cell autoantibodies (Abs) mostly associate with T1D - glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (anti-GAD65), tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA 2-Ab), insulin autoantibody (anti-IAA) and zinc transporter 8 antibodyAim: To evaluate the prevalence of DKA, the frequency o...

Introduction: Inactivity in children is associated with cardiometabolic risk, while physical activity improves cardiometabolic health. We aimed to determine the association between epicardial fat (Efat), interventricular septal and left ventricular posterior wall thicknesses (IVSthickness and LVPWthickness) with physical activity/inactivity, non-sedentary/sedentary behavior, body composition, and cardio-metabolic parameters in children classified as being: ina...

Introduction: The CCDC3 gene encodes for a protein expressed in endothelial cells and adipose tissue. Insulin increases its expression and, in turn, CCDC3 positively regulates adipogenesis and lipid accumulation. CCDC3 expression is increased in visceral adipose tissue from subjects with obesity. Gestational obesity can modify the metabolic programming in the offspring through epigenetic mechanisms. However, it is unknown whether the...

Background: Paediatric patients with sellar masses such as craniopharyngioma (CP) or cyst of Rathke’s pouch (CRP) frequently suffer disease- and treatment-related sequelae.Objective and hypotheses: We analysed the impact and prognostic relevance of initial hydrocephalus (HY) and hypothalamic involvement (HI) on long-term survival and functional capacity (FC) in children with CP or CRP.Method: Using retrospective analysis of pa...

Mutations in genes of the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway have been shown to cause several syndromes characterized by dysmorphic features, growth retardation, cognitive impairment, heart disease and cutaneous abnormalities. The GHrh treatment has been used to improve growth in children with Noonan syndrome.Material and methods: 201 cases of patients referred with clinical suspicion of S. Noonan and other RASopathies was studied. Analysis of ...

Introduction: An increase in liver enzymes predicts cardiac hypertrophy secondary to increased left ventricular mass in patients with cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms involved include decreased adiponectin concentration and increased epicardial fat in these subjects. We hypothesized that associations between these parameters would also be readily apparent in otherwise healthy children.Objectives: Our objective was ...

It is important that any child or adolescent with a suspected difference or disorder of sex development (DSD) is assessed by an experienced clinician with adequate knowledge about the range of conditions associated with DSD. In most cases, the paediatric endocrinologist within this service acts as the first point of contact but involvement of the regional multidisciplinary service is critical. The members of this service should be involved in education and training as well as ...

Human growth is a very complex phenomenon that is influenced by genetic, hormonal, nutritional and environmental factors from fetal life throughout puberty. Although the GH-IGF axis clearly has a central role in this process, with specific actions on longitudinal growth, numerous other genes are also involved in determining stature. Indeed, genome-wide association studies have identified >600 variants associated with human height, but this still only explains a small fract...