ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: In human, the development of the embryonic gonads represents a complex process involving a large number of genes, some still unknown. Specific pathways have a crucial role for the normal ovarian development, the germ cell genomic stability and hormonal maintenance. These pathways’ dysregulation can lead to POF, clinically manifesting as the absence of pubertal onset and/or amenorrhea.Objective: To identify candidate genes responsible f...

Background: Haploinsufficiency of short stature homeobox containing gene (SHOX) is one of the main monogenic causes of short stature. The phenotype of SHOX deficiency (SHOX-D) is often mild, making difficult to identify which short-statured children should be screened.Objective and hypotheses: To estimate the prevalence of SHOX-D in Italian short-statured children and to analyse their phenotype and the sensitivity of various scores and anthropometric mea...

Background: The onset of physiological puberty in females is characterized by physical, hormonal, and genital changes. However, a single specific parameter to early identify these modifications does not exist; its identification could be extremely useful in the evaluation of pubertal development disorders. The uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), defined as systolic peak – diastolic peak/average speed of maximum flow, is an expression of vascular compliance in the uteri...

Background: GnRH analogs (GnRHa) have been used in the management of central precocious puberty (CPP). The response to GnRHa treatment are evaluated by clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic criteria. However, a single parameter to define the adequacy of therapy is not defined. The uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), defined as systolic peak – diastolic peak/average speed of maximum flow, is an expression of vascular compliance in the uterine artery. Circulating estr...

Background: Nutrition and growth in the postnatal phase seems to have an important role for the future risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. It has been suggested that circulating levels of adiponectin in the first 2 years of life are influenced by type of feeding in small for gestational age.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of our study was to evaluate if total and multimeric adiponectin levels in obese adequate for gestational age...

Background: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions in which chromosomal, and gonadal or anatomical sex is atypical.Objective and hypotheses: We describe the case of a 46,XX newborn with ambiguous genitalia. 46,XX DSD set in differential diagnosis disorders of gonadal development (ovotesticular DSD, testicular DSD, gonadal dysgenesis), androgen excess of fetal (mainly congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to deficiency of 21-hydroxylase...

Objective and hypotheses: We studied the prevalence of deficiency in the short stature homeobox containing gene (SHOX) in short-statured children and analysed clinical and radiological signs.Method: A total of 162 children aged 1–17 years (53% females, 67% prepubertal, median age 6.6 years, median height SDS −1.7) presenting with short stature between 2008 and 2014, were analysed for SHOX mutations by direct sequencing and multiplex ligation p...

Introduction: Early identification of classic 21OH-Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (21OH-CAH) through newborn screening (NBS) is crucial to prevent adrenal crises, especially in males. Today 21 OH-CAH NBS is performed in 5/21 regions of Italy. This study aims to report the results of 21OH-CAH NBS in Italy from 2006 to 2019.Methods: All patients underwent a dried blood spot (DBS) test for 17OH-progesterone (17OHP) within t...

Objectives: 1. To describe the clinical, biochemical and testicular ultrasonographic features in a population of males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumor (TART). 2. To identify factors related to the onset of TART. 3. To evaluate the therapeutic management and outcome of TART.Methods: Males with classic and non-classic 21β-hydroxylase-deficient CAH, diagnosed with TART, follo...

Introduction: Patients carrying homozygous IGF1 loss-of-function mutations are extremely rare and show severe pre- and postnatal growth failure, microcephaly, developmental delay, retrognathia and sensorineural deafness. Heterozygous variants in IGF1 appear to be more common in short stature, but only few cases have been reported in detail. Therefore, clinical features and growth response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy are...