ESPE Abstracts

Progeria syndromes are rare in children and include several diseases which lead to premature ageing already in children. Therefore, the pediatrician may be confronted with diseases which are normally seen only in persons with advanced age. We report about two children with progeria, in whom diabetes type 2 become manifest early and with a fulminant course in one patient. The first boy was known with Cockayne syndrome, which belongs to the progeria syndromes. He suffered from l...

Introduction: Although the majority of Growth Hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) cases are classical, the spectrum of clinical phenotypes has expanded to include ‘atypical’ GHIS subjects with milder phenotypes due to very rare heterozygous GHR mutations with dominant negative effects.Case description: A 13 year old pubertal boy was presented with short stature (−1.7SD) and delayed bone age (11 6/12). Final adult height was &#8...

Context: Some of the features of subjects with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) resemble those seen in subjects with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Children with PWS are treated with long-term growth hormone (GH), which has substantially changed their phenotype. Currently, young adults with PWS have to stop GH treatment after attainment of adult height when they do not have adult GHD. Limited information is available about the prevalence of adult GHD in patients with PWS.<p c...

Background: Desert Hedgehog (DHH) gene acts on early testicu-lar development, testis cord formation and differentiation of fetal Leydig cells. It also has a role in nerve sheath formation. DHH gene mu-tations is a very rare cause of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD). Gonadal tumors and peripheral neuropathy have been associated with DHH mutations.Aim: To present three patients with 46,XY GD due to novel homozygous DHH muta...

Background: Testicular adrenal rest tumours (TARTs) are benign tumors consisting of cells with adrenal-like features in mediastinum of testes. TARTs occur in up to 94% of adult male patients with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency and also have been described in patients with Cushing syndrome and acquired adrenal insufficiency. Poor disease control is thought to be one of the main predictive factors for TARTs development.Clinical case: A boy presented at ...

Background: Sclerostin is secreted by the osteocyte and inhibits bone formation by osteoblasts and is thus a negative regulator of bone formation. In adults, sclerostin levels increase after weight loss, which may be prevented by exercise training. The effect of weight loss on sclerostin in children is unknown.Objective and hypotheses: To compare sclerostin levels in children before and after a 10 weeks stay at a weight loss camp (WLC).<p class="abst...

Background: The anogenital distance (AGD) is considered a valid marker of altered androgen action in utero. Recently, reduced AGD has been shown in males with hypospadias, cryptorchidism, reduced semen quality and infertility. It has also been proposed as a new marker to be used by clinicians when managing patients with Disorders of Sex Development. However, little normative data exist and measurement methods vary.Objective and hypotheses: We established...

Background: POU1F1 encodes a pituitary-specific homeodomain transcription factor that is crucial for development and differentiation of anterior pituitary cell types. Mutations in this gene result in GH, TSH and prolactin (PRL) deficiencies.Objective and hypotheses: To describe a male newborn of a mother with known dominant p.R271W mutation in the POU1F1 gene.Methods: Case report with clinical follow up, endocrine investigations, n...

Background: Short stature occurs in Trisomy 21 but it is relatively slight during childhood. Turner syndrome would contribute significantly to short stature but the combined occurrence of both syndromes, even Turner mosaicism is unusual and could result in significant short stature.Case: SP was referred for a growth assessment at 2.5 years. Her parents were counselled about short stature occurring in both syndromes but were worried that her height was si...

Background: The management of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is still challenging in particular for mild forms with TSH levels ranging between 4.5 and 10 mU/L.Objective and hypotheses: to compare left ventricular (LV) geometry and function of SH subjects and matched euthyroid controls, and to evaluate the effect of L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy on cardiac parameters.Method: Thirty-six (36) children (19 females and 17 males), aged 8.6...