ESPE Abstracts

For decades, the dominant conceptual framework for understanding short and tall stature was centered on the GH-IGF-I axis. However, recent findings in basic molecular and cellular biology and in clinical genetics have uncovered a vast array of other regulatory systems that control skeletal growth and an accompanying vast array of genetic defects outside the GH-IGF-I axis that can cause disorders of linear growth. As a result, the traditional view of short or tall stature that ...

Introduction: Recombinant Growth Hormone (GH) has changed the lives of many patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). GH treatment has beneficial effects on body composition, physical performance, cognition, psychomotor development, respiratory function and quality of life of patients with PWS. Due to the narrow therapeutic range, GH treatment is subject to strict limits. Clinicians measure serum immunoreactive Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 ('total IGF-I&#...

Background: Patients affected by pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHPI-b) develop resistance to PTH leading to hypocalcemia and hyperphosphoremia, which is often associated with resistance to TSH. PHP-Ib is associated with methylation changes at one or several differentially methylated regions (DMRs) within the GNAS complex locus, located at 20q13.2–13.3. This locus gives rise to several different transcripts (NESP55, XL, A/B), with varying patterns of imprinted expressi...

Background: Multiple daily injections of insulin for children and young people with diabetes can be very daunting and, some have a phobia of needles. As a result, for some individuals, the use of an i-port device can be life-changing and help with their diabetes management. The i-port is an injection port that enables diabetes patients to administer their insulin without having to puncture their skin multiple times in a day. In most cases, the i-port can stay ...

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome Type I (TRPS I) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder clinically characterized by craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities, associated with cone-shaped epiphyses, brachydactyly and short stature. Although patients with TRPS I present various degrees of short stature, there are only four reports of growth hormone deficiency in patients with TRPS I. We present the case of TRPS I and partial GH deficiency. A 15-year-old female was referred ...

Background: Recently we described a family with several members having intrauterine and postnatal growth failure as well as signs of Silver–Russell syndrome (SRS) who carried a heterozygote nonsense mutation of IGF2. The patients had low IGF-II serum levels, but normal IGF-I serum levels.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to estimate the diagnostic value of the IGF-II, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 measurements in the assessment of children with SRS.<p clas...

Background: In recent years more and more genetic defects along the GHRH–GH–IGF-I axis have been reported. Those mutations of the IGF-I receptor (R) are a rare abnormality of whom only the heterozygotes progenies survive.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the birth length, weight and brain size using head circumference and find out whether these correlate with the type of mutation.Method: Collection of data of 65 neon...

Background: Following the 2010 CAH consensus, the need for genetic confirmation of diagnosis remains uncertain and variation in practice is unclear.Methods: This variation was assessed by using the International CAH(I-CAH) Registry which was developed using the same platform as the I-DSD Registry.Results: After the development of the I-CAH Registry in October 2014, the rate of addition of CAH cases increased from 2/month to 14/mont...

Background: Arnold-Chiari malformations (CM), types I-IV, refer to a spectrum of congenital hindbrain maldevelopments characterized by downward herniation of the cerebellar tonsils. CM-I is defined as tonsillar herniation of 3–5 mm below the foramen magnum and is the most common and the least severe of the spectrum.Objective and hypotheses: Children with CM-I usually are asymptomatic and often diagnosed in adulthood, therefore early presentation of ...

Background: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) exhibit wide variations in the activity of growth hormone (GH)/insulin–like growth factor–I (IGF-I) axis and this heterogeneity may result in supra physiological concentrations of IGF-I during GH treatment. The long-term effects of elevated IGF-I levels has been a matter of concern. We explored the variations in total IGF-I and bioactive IGF-I and the associations with growth and glucose metab...