ESPE Abstracts

Background: Loss of imprinting has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Monogenic causes of central precocious puberty (CPP) were identified in families with loss-of-function mutations in two paternally expressed imprinted genes: Makorin zinc finger 3 (MKRN3) and Delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1). The role of imprinting defects in CPP has not been described so far.Objective: To inves...

Background: Idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) is mostly described as an isolated entity. A few studies have shown its association with clinical syndromes and rare cases of chromosomal abnormalities.Objective: To clinically characterize patients with CPP, pointing out prevalent associated conditions and phenotypes.Patients and Methods: One hundred and forty-five patients with idiopathic CPP were retrospectively evaluated. ...

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...

Introduction: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is classified as permanent CH (PCH) if levothyroxine (LT4) is life-long required, or as transient CH (TCH) if after LT4 discontinuation thyroid function remains normal. Early detection of TCH allows early discontinuation of LT4.Purposes: To identify predictors of TCH and PCH, and their cut-off value.Subjects and Methods: Retrospective st...

Background: In the past, the majority of the pacients with Type 1 Diabetes (DM1) had late puberty due to hipogonadotropic hipogonadism as a result of insulin deficiency. However, the use of intensive insulin therapy nowadays, results in higher BMI what can lead to an earlier puberty. Insulin administered subcutaneously is not processed by the liver, which implies increased exposure to this hormone in the ovary leading to greater activation of theca and granulo...

Puberty is a crucial biological process normally occurring at a specific time during the lifespan, during which sexual and somatic maturation are completed, and reproductive capacity is reached. Pubertal timing is not only determined by genetics, but also by endogenous and environmental cues, including nutritional and metabolic signals. During the last decade, we have learned much regarding the essential roles of kisspeptins and the neuropeptide pathways that converge on these...

The high rate of false-positive (FP) results in congenital adrenal hyperplasia newborn screening (CAH-NBS) worldwide challenges NBS-programs and reinforces the need of high specificity subsequent tests. Few studies assessed the efficacy of different serum steroids by the available methodologies. Serum 21-deoxycortisol-21DF demonstrated a high diagnostic accuracy in CAH children/adults but was not evaluated in the NBS context. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of confirmatory...

Background: Most congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients carry mutations derived from conversion events involving the pseudogene, and the remaining carry new mutations varying according to ethnicity. A good genotype-phenotype correlation is observed, allowing the use of molecular analysis in clinical practice.Objective and hypotheses: To review the molecular diagnosis in a large cohort of CAH patients in order to create a diagnostic panel in our po...

Background: 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD) is a spectrum disorder which lead to variable degrees of atypical external genitalia, ranging from female to micropenis and absent of gonadal tissue (known as Embryonic Testicular Regression Syndrome -ETRS). Most patients with 46,XY GD remains without a molecular diagnosis.Objective: To report the DEAH-box helicase 37 gene (DHX37) as a novel candidate for the GD etiology.Patients a...

Background: Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have an increased risk of developing optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) during childhood. Although these tumors usually have a benign course, some cases result in significant clinical symptoms, including endocrinological disorders.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study is to evaluate the endocrinological complications of OPGs involving the chiasm in children with NF1.Metho...