ESPE Abstracts

Background: Being born small for gestational age (SGA) is an associated condition to nonspecific 46,XY DSD (without molecular diagnosis and with no specific disorders of undermasculinization). However, the underlying mechanism of the relationship between the presence of genital abnormalities and intrauterine growth restriction is unknown. The GH-IGF system is crucial for sex differentiation in mice and in humans, members of this system were detected in embryon...

Background: Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a highly heterogeneous condition with a variable phenotype, defined as two or more features of the classical triad: i) optic nerve hypoplasia, ii) midline brain defects, and iii) pituitary hormone abnormalities.Objective and hypotheses: To describe the clinical, endocrine, and neuroimaging features in eight children with SOD.Method: Eight (six males) consecutive patients, diagnosed with SO...

Background and aim: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals found in everyday consumer products. These chemicals are considered endocrine disruptive. However, their effect on pubertal onset and development is still unclear. The aim of the current study was therefore to explore the relationship between PFAS exposure and pubertal development using novel objective pubertal phenotyping, e.g., ultrasound-determined testicular v...

Background: Prevalence and severity of obesity and associated comorbidities are increasing in adolescents. Data on neck and upper arm (UA) circumference in addition to established anthropometric measures to define cardiometabolic risk are limited to date.Methods: Data from Phase I of the EU-funded PreSTART-study (trial registration number NCT02545140) was applied. Demographic, clinical, biochemical and lifestyle data were collected in adolescent...

Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is a rare, potentially life-threatening, condition due to abnormalities of steroid biosynthesis or of adrenal gland development and responsiveness. PAI is characterized by impaired secretion of glucocorticoids and can be accompanied by mineralocorticoid and adrenal androgens deficiency or excess, depending on the underlying cause. In adults, the most common etiology is represented by autoimmunity. In contrast, the disease in children is more...

Even today, the majority of families are caught completely unprepared by the diagnosis of diabetes in their child. The "bad news" hits them like a bolt from the blue and calls into question the future plans of parents and children. The first talk with the paediatric diabetologist, in which the diagnosis is communicated and the therapy is roughly outlined, sets the course for the acceptance of diabetes in the family and the long-term trusting cooperation with the diab...

Background: Dyslipidemia increases the frequency and severity of micro- and macro-vascular complications of type 1 diabetes.Objective and hypotheses: The present study aims to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its association with clinical and laboratory findings in diabetic children and adolescents.Methods: The study included 202 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Demographic data and laboratory findings wer...

Background: There is wide geographic variation in the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset of diabetes from ~15–70% in Europe and North America.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the frequency of DKA at the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the paediatric population seen in the Department of Pediatric Diabetology of Turin (Italy) from 1/1/2008 to 31/12/2013.Method: Data (venous pH and HCO3, season at the onset)...

Background: The diagnosis of GHD in children is based on auxological, biochemical, neuro-radiological, and genetic tests. Biochemical tests include evaluation of stimulated GH secretion and baseline IGF-1 determination. Although IGF-1 is the most reliable indicator of GH action, its value should always be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical and biochemical parameters. Since IGF-1 has good specificity (about 90%), but low sensitivity (about 70%), nor...

Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with short stature, hypogonadism, autoimmune diseases and metabolic conditions. Genome-wide changes in TS affect both transcriptome and methylome. Genomic studies have primarily focused on 45,X, but only 35-45% of the TS population has 45,X, while the remaining TS have other karyotypes.Methods: We used 5 study cohorts. A “genomic cohort” of TS with 45,X karyotype...