ESPE Abstracts

Objective: Hypothalamic dysfunction is a rare condition and can be encountered in patients who have been diagnosed or treated for a suprasellar brain tumor. Due to its rarity, signs and symptoms of hypothalamic dysfunction may be difficult to recognize, leading to delayed diagnosis of the suprasellar brain tumor or to difficulties in finding the health care expertise for hypothalamic dysfunction after tumor treatment. To improve care and outcome of patients wi...

Background: NR5A1/SF-1 variants result in a wide range of phenotypes including DSD, male infertility, and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). Little is known of how NR5A1/SF-1 variants affect puberty in individuals with or without DSD. This study aimed to assess the impact of NR5A1/SF-1 variants on pubertal development and investigate whether abnormal puberty is linked to the severity of DSD in an international cohort with NR5A1...

Background: Inhibin consists of two homologous subunits, the α (INHA) and the βA or βB subunits (INHBA/INHBB). Both inhibins play an important role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by regulating the follicle stimulating hormone levels. INHA knockout mice develop mixed or incompletely differentiated gonadal stromal tumours. In females, some INHA variants have been associated with primary ova...

New developments in massive sequencing techniques allow now the generation of an unprecedented amount of genomic data, including the generation of complete ancient genomes. Among those, the Neandertal and Denisovan genomes, dated between 40 000 and 50 000 years ago, are shedding new light on evolutionary processes such as the genetic basis of archaic hominins and modern humans specific adaptations -including morphological, metabolical and behavioural traits- as well as the ext...

Background: Genetic causes of central precocious puberty (CPP) has been increasingly recognized, extending our knowledge of the triggering factors of human pubertal timing. Distinct etiologies remain to be elucidated in sporadic and familial cases. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) is a chromatin-associated protein that can activate or repress gene transcription, playing a role in neuronal maturation. It is encoded by MECP2 gene located at chromoso...

Background: Iodine concentrations in Chilean schoolchildren are the highest in South America. This may be related to excessive sodium intake, which is associated with hypertension. However, iodine decreases blood pressure (BP), which would be a cardiovascular protective factor.Objective and hypotheses: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of iodine on BP and cardiovascular risk factors, despite salt intake.Method:...

Background: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is genetically mediated in up to 30% of cases. Many genes associated with POI have roles in early ovary developmental processes, including meiosis.Objectives: We investigated the genetic mechanism underlying early-onset POI in three young women presenting with absent puberty: two sisters from a consanguineous pedigree and a third unrelated proband.<st...

Background: Male to female (MtF) gender dysphoric adolescents with advanced pubertal development can be treated with antiandrogenic progestins such as cyproterone acetate (CA). CA is much cheaper and easier to administer than GnRHa and can later be combined with cross-sex hormones (17β-estradiol) (CA+E). To date, few data exist on the (side) effects of progestins for this indication.Objective and hypotheses: To report the effects of consecutive CA a...

Background: Biochemical ratios of precursor-to-product urinary steroid metabolites have been proposed as surrogate markers of steroidogenic enzyme activity to aid the differential diagnosis of inborn disorders of steroidogenesis. Using ratios rather than total amounts facilitates analysis of single spot urine samples, more convenient than 24-h urine collections for young children. Previous studies examining the utility of these biochemical ratios have been lim...

Background and Aim: Several genetic variants associating with hepatic fat content in adults have been identified in genome-wide association studies. Their effects in children remain unclear. This study aimed to test the effect of genetic variants known to associate with hepatic fat in adults, individually and combined as a genetic risk score (GRS), on cardiometabolic traits, and to investigate the predictive ability of the GRS for hepatic steatosis in children...