ESPE Abstracts

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: Several genetic defects (GHR, SHOX, GHSR, NPR2, IGFALS) have been reported in children classified as ISS. ISS children are GH sufficient and about one third of them show low IGF-I levels, suggesting some degree of GH insensitivity.Objective: To explore potential genetic defects in ISS children suspicious of GH insensitivity, selected by low IGF-I levels and low response to IGF generation test.<...

Background: Human IGF1 gene defects are characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, sensorineural deafness, microcephaly and intellectual disability. Seven cases have been reported so far, and the underlying pathophysiology has been characterized in only three.Objective: To describe a patient with severe short stature presenting a novel homozygous IGF1 gene mutation and its underlying pathogenic mechanism.<p clas...

Background: We have recently reported the molecular diagnosis of two patients with severe growth failure associated with a spectrum of early-onset autoimmune disease and immunodeficiency. Heterozygous de novo mutations, c.1847_1849delAAG (p.E616del) and c.1276T>C (p.C426R), in the STAT3 gene were found. Functional in vitro studies of these variants are presented.Objective and hypotheses: We...

Background: Prediction models demonstrate potential in predicting growth in patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) for growth disorders. However, considerable information from patients is needed to calculate a predicted growth curve. The curve matching technique only requires height data. This technique identifies growth curves that are similar (matched) among real-world patients within a database. The growth curves of these ‘matched...

Poor adherence to long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment can lead to suboptimal clinical outcomes. The easypod™ connect eHealth platform enables healthcare professionals to obtain an accurate picture of real-world adherence by allowing patients to transmit adherence data to a database. Our aims were to assess adherence to r-hGH (Saizen, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) treatment with the easypod connect platform in children from treatment start to 48 months and to investi...

Introduction: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is the most frequent endocrine deficit in childhood survivors of brain tumours. However, there is insufficient evidence to guide the timing of growth hormone replacement (GHR). At Great Ormond Street Hospital timing is based on clinical need rather than in relation to oncological treatment. Therefore, sufficient variability in GHR timing is available to analyze its effect on tumour progression and recurrence.<p...

Introduction: Growth hormone excess (GHE) in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) has been reported in some sporadic cases. Whether GHE stimulates progressive optic pathway glioma (OPG) growth is of concern. The prevalence of GHE in NF-1 has not been described and the scheme treatment has not been well characterized.Objective: To describe in children with NF-1/OPG and GH excess the treatment regimen and long term response to long- acting octeotr...

The easypod™ electromechanical injection in combination with the easypod Connect platform electronically records and transmits, in real time, accurate, objective records of the date, time and dose injected for patients receiving Growth Hormone (GH) for growth disorders, limiting the risk of misreporting and allowing physicians to accurately monitor patient behavior.The aim was to study individual patterns of adherence from start treatment up to 24 m...

Previous studies have shown that poor adherence to recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH; Saizen®) therapy is associated with decreased efficacy outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Easypod™ is the only electronic injection device that enables continuous monitoring of adherence to treatment. Early recognition of non-adherence is essential in the management of long-term outcomes of r-hGH therapy. This analysis aimed to evaluate adherence to r-hGH therapy adminis...