ESPE Abstracts

Background: Some IGFALS variants have been reported in more than one ALS-deficient family raising the question whether they originated from a single common ancestor allele (founder effect) or alternatively, as independent mutational events (hot spot). Since c.103dupG (p.E35Gfs*17) is located in a stretch of five consecutive guanine residues, where both G-duplication and deletion have been described in several families, we speculate that this region could be a hot spot...

Due to the increase in prevalence of childhood obesity, more obese children are referred to the endocrinologist for the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis assessment. The circadian rhythm (CR) of cortisol in saliva (SAF) may constitute a non-invasive, first line test to exclude hypercortisolism on obese children.Aim: To evaluate possible disturbances of CR of SAF in obese children with clinical signs of hypercortisolism.<p class="a...

Background: Loss-of-function mutations in the imprinted gene MKRN3 represent the most common known genetic defects associated with central precocious puberty (CPP). The penetrance of these mutations remains to be established. To date, all reported individuals with MKRN3 mutations were already in puberty or postpubertal and were identified retrospectively.Objective and hypotheses: To report the first case of a prepubertal child with an MKRN3 muta...

GHD diagnosis in neonates and infants is a challenge owing to the fact that GH pharmacological stimulation tests (GHST) are not approved at this age. In a retrospective study, we found that a random GH<6.5 µg/L confirmed GHD diagnosis in neonates with clinical suspicion of GHD with high diagnostic accuracy (1). The accuracy of GH and its surrogates of action have not been set for infants with current standardized immunoassays.Objective</...

Background: Primary IGF1 deficiency can result from molecular defects in genes encoding for the GHR, IGF1, STAT5b and ALS. Heterozygous, activating mutations in the STAT3 gene have been recently described in children with severe growth failure associated with a spectrum of early-onset autoimmune disease.Case presentation: We report the molecular diagnosis in two unrelated patients with severe growth failure and IGF1 deficiency: P1, a 3.6 year ol...

Background: Life expectancy of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has increased due to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Metabolic disorders and changes in bone mineral density (BMD) are common in adult patients with HIV. There are few studies evaluating metabolic and bone involvement in children.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate metabolic disorders and BMD in vertically HIV-infected children in four Chilean hospitals.<p class="...

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: We recently identified loss-of-function mutations in makorin ring finger 3 (MKRN3) as a cause of familial central precocious puberty (CPP). Analysis of Mkrn3 expression in the arcuate nucleus of mice showed high expression levels in juvenile mice, with a marked reduction prior to puberty onset, suggesting that MKRN3 inhibits puberty initiation. The function of MKRN3 is not known but based on its amino acid sequence, it is predicted to act as an ubiquitin l...

Background: The etiological investigation of central precocious puberty (CPP) has improved with more precise clinical approach, neuroimaging, and genetic studies. CPP can be caused by congenital or acquired conditions, with or without central nervous system (CNS) lesions. More recently, genetic and epigenetic disorders have been identified in children with CPP, previously classified as idiopathic.Objective: To update the...