ESPE Abstracts

Three patients from two unrelated families in Malta; one consanguineous (siblings: Patient 1, male and Patient 2, female) and one non-consanguineous (Patient 3, male), manifested hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with delayed puberty, intellectual disability, scoliosis, and ataxia with cerebellar hypoplasia on MRI. GnRH tests revealed low peak LH and FSH concentrations in the patients: Patient 1; LH 2.3 IU/L, FSH 4.4 IU/L (14.3y), Patient 2; LH 3.6 IU/L, FSH 6.4 IU/L (12.5y), Pati...

Monogenic forms of diabetes have specific treatments that differ from the standard care provided for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, making the appropriate diagnosis essential. Misclassification of all diabetes types may occur and healthcare providers should be aware of this possibility. A systematic approach to subjects who are newly diagnosed with diabetes can assist classification of common forms of diabetes and identify those in whom molecular investigation would be advantageo...

Diseases of food restriction, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, are psychiatric conditions with the highest mortality. It is not known how these disorders emerge and what determine mortality. Individuals with these disorders frequently engage in compulsive exercise. States of food restriction are associated with elevated activity of hypothalamic neurons that produce AgRP, which cells are crucial for feeding and can promote stereotypic behaviors.Here,...

Background: Infantile Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn error of metabolism characterized by low serum alkaline phosphatase activity caused by loss-of-function mutations within the ALPL-gene encoding the tissue nonspecific isoenzyme of ALP (TNSALP). TNSALP controls skeletal and dental mineralization by hydrolyzing inorganic pyrophosphate, a potent inhibitor of bone mineralization. Patients develop substantial skeletal disease, failure to thrive, and sometime...

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by severe hypophagia, high levels of physical activity, harsh weight loss and an intense fear of weight gain. It has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric illnesses and, due to the unknown underlying neurobiology, it is challenging to treat. Agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons, which are localized in the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus, are both necessary and sufficient or feeding in adult animals. To uncov...

Background: Patients with vitD resistant rickets (VDRR) due to vitD receptor (VDR) mutations have extreme rickets along with alopesia, severe hypocalcemia, hypophosfatemia secondary to hyperparathroidism and elevated 1,25(OH)2vitD. Although there is no standard therapy for this patients, long-term or intermittanat i.v. or high dose oral calcium suplementations are recommended to correct the hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. ...

Background: Skeletal dysplasias comprise heterogeneous disorders often characterised by short stature with abnormalities of one or more of epiphysis, metaphysis or diaphysis. Over 200 types of skeletal dysplasias are identified, most of which are autosomal dominantly inherited. Actually, surgery has attempted to correct bone deformities but drug therapy for improving their severe short stature has been rarely attempted.Objective and hypotheses: Administr...

Background: The diagnosis, treatment, and management of growth disorders can have a substantial burden on patients and caregivers. Research was conducted with patient experts to understand challenges experienced by patients with growth disorders and their caregivers, and identify opportunities to improve care.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used to obtain insights from patient experts between October 2022-January 2...

Introduction: Gynecomastia is common in boys at early-mid puberty, while prepubertal gynecomastia is a rare condition. Sertoli cell tumors (SCTs) account for 2% of prepubertal testicular tumors. Most of the SCTs in prepubertal boys, which are generally bilateral and diffuse, are in the content of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) or other familial syndromes (Carney complex). Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor (LCCSCT) is a variant of SCT and is seen in PJS. I...

Introduction Objective: The SHOX gene is located in pseudoautosomal region of chromosomes of Xp22.33 and Yp11.32. It plays role in proliferation and differentiation of epiphyseal chondrocyte. Leri-Weill syndrome is observed with loss of an allele, while missense mutations lead to idiopathic short stature without any dysmorphic findings. This report presents clinical features of three cases diagnosed with Leri-Weill syndrome, and their responses to rhGH treatme...