ESPE Abstracts

We demonstrate significant penile growth in an infant with 17 beta HSD-deficiency treated with DHT-gel.Background: The child was born with ambiguous genitalia at full term. Investigations revealed 46,XY karyotype, testosterone and DHT levels were 2.5 nmol/L and <0.1 nmol/L respectively. No female internal genitalia were found. hCG stimulation did not result in an increase in testosterone, but a clinically obvious increase in phallus size. Subsequent ...

In a time of widespread availability of thyroid lab tests plenty of patients are reported to endocrine clinics because of isolated slightly increased TSH value and many papers are dedicated disscussion of precautions to treatment in subclinical hypothyroidism. Simultaneously in the same places other patients develop severe hypothyroidism without proper diagnosis. What is the reason of missing diagnoses?The Aim: Clinical characteristics of severe hypothyr...

Background: We describe our experience in medical therapy for invasive somatotroph pituitary macroadenomas in 8 children or adolescents presenting with acromegaly/gigantism, in terms of growth and IGF-I levels control.Patients: Eight children, aged 5 to 17 years (median 12.4 years), presented with growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion related to somatotroph pituitary macroadenomas with cavernous sinus invasion in 6/8. Genetic testing revealed AIP mutation i...

Background: Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) is the product of a single-copy gene located on chromosome 15 and is ubiquitously expressed in humans. Increased hepatic IGF-1R gene expression is found in hepatocellular carcinoma and in chronic hepatitis C, making parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells more susceptible to the mitogenic effects of IGF-1.Objective and hypotheses: As we have previously demonstrated that IGF-1 and IGF-2 circula...

Background: Until now, altered balance of Th1 and Th2 immune cells has been postulated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). However, recent studies on thyroid diseases have suggested a new role for Th17 cells that have been classified as a new lineage, distinct from Th1, Th2 and Treg cells. Despite wide interest, the role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is still debated.<p class="abst...

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is often familial but its genetic cause is largely unknown. Very recently, the makorin RING finger protein 3 (MKRN3) gene has been found mutated for the first time in 5 families with familial precocious puberty. The inheritance pattern is particular being the MKRN3 a maternal imprinted gene. Moreover in a recent genome wide association study common intronic or intragenic variants harbouring this gene and other two imprinted genes, D...

Background: Individuals with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are treated postnatally with glucocorticoids. Earlier research with animals and other disorders with excess GC exposure implicate that GCs can influence memory. Deficits in working memory can be seen already during childhood in children with classic CAH.Objective: We tested the hypothesis that adult individuals with classic CAH show impaired cognitive functions.<p class="abstex...

Background: Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, autonomic dysregulation and Neural tumor (ROHHADNET) is a rare condition. The first symptom is the appearance of rapid onset obesity (2–4 years) followed by central hypoventilation, hypothalamic dysfunction, dysautonomic symptoms and neural tumors.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of this study was to evaluate adrenal function in ROHHADNET patients from a single-center.<...

Background: Hyperandrogenism in children is associated with excessive adrenal or gonadal androgens secretion. The most common causes of androgens hypersecretion are PCOS, adrenal tumors, Cushing’s syndrome, CAH, and gonadal virilizing tumors. Within the last 15 years single case-reports of hyperandrogenism in female patients with congenital porto-systemic shunts were described in literature. The mechanism of such coincidence is unknown but the role of hyperinsulinism, imp...

Background: DAX-1 (NR0B1) plays a key role in adrenal and reproductive development. It interacts with other nuclear receptors; however, its exact biological role remains unclear. In men most patients with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) present with acute adrenal failure. To date DAX-1 mutations have been found in more than 100 families or patients with X-linked AHC.Results: We report the case of a 2.5-year-old boy who presented with a histor...