ESPE Abstracts

Background: Glucocorticoids play an important role in the developing fetus; the most important of which is lung maturation by increasing surfactant production and release. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functioning changes throughout the fetal period, especially during the transition to extrauterine life. Given the importance of glucocorticoids in lung development and functioning, studying glucocorticoid sensitivity (GS) in this population would be helpful, especially in the pre...

Background: 16 year old female neonate presented with neonatal diabetes, congenital hypothyroidism and sepsis.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the neonate for a common cause of neonatal diabetes, congenital hypothyroidism and sepsis and to explore for the best modality of management, including a possible role for sulphonylureas.Method: The neonate born of 3rd degree consanguinity was admitted and started on insulin infusion an...

Background: Neonatal diabetes (ND) is a rare monogenic form of diabetes presenting within the first six months of life. The most frequent causes include mutations in KCNJ11, ABCC8 and insulin genes, but up to 40% of patients remain without a molecular genetic diagnosis.Case presentation: Case 1: a female newborn of non-consanguineous parents, born at 35 weeks, SGA. She presented with hyperglycemia at second day of life...

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors are at increased risk for endocrine late effects.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate growth and pubertal patterns in patients diagnosed with childhood ALL and to identify risk factors for impaired growth and puberty.Method: Retrospective chart review with longitudinal assessment of anthropometric measurements and pubertal status of 183 childhood ALL survivors diag...

Background: Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) has a relative hypoinsulinemia and a lower insulin resistance than non-PWS subjects. Mostly on the basis of such higher insulin sensitivity, PWS subjects have been hypothesized to be at lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Objective and hypotheses: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the presence and the severity of NAFLD in a group of PWS children compared to matched pairs.<p cla...

Background: Carney complex (CNC) is a rare multi endocrine neoplasia syndrome associated with endocrine and non-endocrine tumours. Three types of testicular tumour have been described; large cell calcifying Sertoli tumours (LCCST), Leydig cell tumours and testicular tumours of adrenal origin. LCCST is a rare benign stromal tumour, which has been observed in 41% of males affected with CNC, usually appearing in the first decade of life. It can be hormonally active, presenting wi...

Background: Dominant mutations in ABCC8 can cause congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), which is characterised by unregulated insulin secretion.Objective and hypotheses: To understand the molecular basis of medically unresponsive CHI due to dominant ABCC8 mutations.Method: We investigated ten patients with diazoxide unresponsive CHI who required a near total pancreatectomy. DNA sequencing revealed seven dominant heter...

Background: Congenital hypopituitarism is a rare disease. Although our understanding of the involved transcription factors is improving, mutations in candidate genes are rarely identified. Extra-pituitary symptoms can point towards new genes of interest. FOXL2 is mutated in blepharophimosis/ptosis/epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES), a rare affection that combines congenital alterations of eyelids with ovarian dysgenesis in some families. Moreover, we have previously reported ...

Background: The steroidogenic enzyme aromatase is encoded by the CYP19A1 gene. Aromatase activity is required for estrogen biosynthesis from androgen precursors in the ovary and several extragonadal tissues. The role of aromatase and thus estrogens for human biology is best illustrated by disease states, both deficiency and excess which might be caused by genetic disorders.Aim: A novel deletion-insertion mutation spanning from intron 10 to the 3...

Background: A variable prevalence of scoliosis has been reported in Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). Clinical detection can be challenging. The role of GH therapy (GHT) in the onset and progression of scoliosis remains controversial as does the modality of screening.Objective and hypotheses: To define the prevalence of scoliosis in our PWS patients and analyse the role of age, gender, genotype, BMI, and GHT on its onset and severity.<p class="abstex...