ESPE Abstracts

Background: Disorders (or differences) of sex development (DSD) are rare congenital conditions in which the development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical. The luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) is important for male sex development. LHCGR mutations can cause Leydig cell hypoplasia, which is an autosomal recessive disorder.Objective and hypotheses: We found two heterozygous mutations in the LHCGR, a n...

Background: Antimüllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by granulosa cells surrounding follicles. There are limited studies about the change of AMH levels at the pubertal onset.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study was to identify whether AMH levels could be diagnostic for central precocious puberty (CPP), premature thelarche and premature adrenarche (PA) and to investigate the factors influencing AMH regulation.Method: ...

Background: Congenital isolated GH deficiency (cIGHD) is a rare genetic disease occurring mostly in consanguineous families. It is caused by hGH-1 gene deletion or GHRH – receptor mutations.Aim of study: To collect retrospectively size at birth, developmental mile stones, linear and head growth and pubertal development before and during hGH treatment.Subjects: The medical charts of 37/41 patients with cIGHD (21 m, 16 f) contai...

Background: There is wide geographic variation in the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset of diabetes from ~15–70% in Europe and North America.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the frequency of DKA at the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the paediatric population seen in the Department of Pediatric Diabetology of Turin (Italy) from 1/1/2008 to 31/12/2013.Method: Data (venous pH and HCO3, season at the onset)...

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children is a diagnostic challenge. Presently recommended markers of liver steatosis and risk of progression to fibrosis are: ultrasound imaging (US) and liver aminotransferases (ALT and AST). Owing to the poor sensitivity of these tests, there is a need to search for biomarkers which could indicate early stages of NAFLD. The enhanced liver fibrosis test (ELF) based on the combination of serum concentration of hyal...

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by presence of several organ specific autoantibodies. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody is a promising marker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which is known to coincide with autoimmune diabetes. Presence of these antibodies was not investigated in children with type 1 diabetes.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate presence of anti-CCP antibodies in children with type 1 diabetes compar...

Background: Ovotesticular disorder of sexual development (DSD is a rare form of DSD in which both testicular and ovarian tissues are present in the same individual either in a single gonad (ovotestis) or in opposite gonads with a testis and an ovary on each side.Objective and hypotheses: To discuss rare cases of ovotesticular DSD and one of the novel findings of these cases.Methods and patients: Case 1 is the first child of unrelat...

Background: Previous studies have indicated that taller individuals have a higher risk of developing different types of cancer, including breast cancer and melanoma.Objective and hypotheses: Our goal was to study any association between height and the risk of cancer in general-, and breast cancer and melanoma specifically in a very large cohort composed of most Swedish women and men followed over a long period of time.Method: We ha...

Background: Recently, T3 receptor alpha (TRα) mutations have been identified in a number of patients with varying degrees of growth impairment, delayed development, constipation, increases in serum T3 and decreases in T4 and rT3.Objective: To determine the spectrum of clinical and functional consequences of novel TRα mutations.Method: Clinical assessment and biochemical, imaging...

Background: AAAS is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by adrenal insufficiency, alacrimia, achalasia and neurological symptoms. The disease-causing AAAS gene encodes for the ALADIN nuclear pore protein.Case presentation: Case 1: A girl (born to unrelated parents) presented at age 3.9 years with fatigue and hyperpigmented skin. Clinical examination was normal, clumsy gait was noted. Endocrine studies confirmed adrenal insufficiency (F=9 mg/ml,...