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...

Introduction: 5α-reductase type 2 deficiency (5α--RD) and 17β-HSD type 3 deficiency (17β-HSDD) are rare differences/disorders of sex development (DSD) in which impairment of steroidogenic enzymes causes undervirilisation in patients with a 46,XY genotype. We aim to enlarge the limited knowledge on long-term gonadal function and gonadal pathology in these conditions.Methods: Data on phenotype, laborato...

Introduction: The European Registries for Rare Endocrine Conditions (EuRRECa) project aims to support the needs of the endocrine and bone community by facilitating the collaboration between patients, health care professionals and researchers across Europe and beyond. It is a project funded by the European Union’s health programme and is the affiliated registry of the European Reference Network for Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN). It consists of two r...

Introduction: In various forms of XY disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) the risk of germ cell cancer is increased. In the 2006 DSD consensus statement this risk was estimated to be intermediate in 17beta-HSDtype3 deficiency (HSD17B3D) and low in 5alpha-reductasetype2 deficiency (SRD5A2D) but based on very few cases. Few studies have been performed since; therefore we aimed to review gonadal pathology in an international cohort with these conditions...

Background: Polymorphisms in several genes may be associated with a higher risk of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Objective: To examine the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) −238G>A, −1031 T>C and −863 C>A of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFA) gene; rs738409 C>G of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene; +276 G>T and +45 T>G of Ad...

Objective: Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) is the most important thyroid hormone transporter in humans and is encoded by the SERPINA7 gene located on chromosome Xq22.2. By analyzing the genes of TBG-deficient patients, we aim to find a new molecular basis for the possible etiology of the disease.Design and Methods: 10 groups of subjects were enrolled in the pediatric department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejia...

Background: The diagnosis of 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) due to 5-alpha reductase 2 (5α-RD2) deficiency has been based on testosterone:dihydrotestosterone (T:DHT) ratio, urinary steroid profiling and mutational analysis of SRD5A2 gene. The biochemical hallmarks of 5α-RD2 deficiency include increased T:DHT ratio. However, several difficulties are observed in the DHT measurement leading to misdiagnosis. The mutational analysis of the SRD5A2 has been propose...

Background: Gynaecomastia (GM) is common in boys with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) during adolescence due to the higher diurnal oestradiol–testosterone ratio in early-to-mid puberty. The physiological mid-late pubertal rise in testosterone (T) causes the GM to disappear in chromosomally normal boys, but GM persists in boys with KS if this rise in T is blunted.Aims and objectives: We aimed to examine the effect of routine T supplementation in boys with ...

Objective: The influence of androgens and estrogens on growth is complex, and understanding their relative roles is important for optimizing the treatment of children with various disorders of growth and puberty.Design: We examined the proportional roles of androgens and estrogens in the regulation of pubertal growth in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP). The study compared 6-month low-dose intramuscular testoste...

Introduction: Androgens are essential for the development of male sex characteristics. Testosterone (T) production from androstenedione (A) by the Hydroxysteroid 17-Beta Dehydrogenase 3 (HSD17B3) in gonadal Leydig cells triggers the differentiation of the Wolffian ducts into epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles and the prostate. Shortly after, the virilisation of the external male genitalia starts through the conversion of T into dihydrotestosterone (DHT...