ESPE Abstracts

Background: Isolated GH deficiency type II (IGHD II), the autosomal-dominant form of GH deficiency, is mainly caused by specific splicing mutations in the human GH (hGH) gene (GH-1). These mutations, occurring in and around exon 3, cause complete exon 3 skipping and produce a dominant-negative 17.5-kDa GH isoform that reduces the accumulation and secretion of wt-GH.Objective and hypotheses: As the severity of IGHD II inversely correlate...

Background: Recently a heterozygote mutations in the gene ACAN coding the protein aggrecan has been described as a cause of familiar short starture combined with accelerated bone age. The aggrecan is an extracellular proteoglycan in cartilage of growth plates and plays an important role in biological and biomechanical properties of cartilage.Objective and hypotheses: To provide a genetic screening of ACAN within the families with familiar short stature a...

Background: The approach to investigating a newborn with a suspected DSD is likely to vary between centres and may be influenced by local availability.Method: To explore the current diagnostic practice and needs, an international survey of 124 paediatric endocrinologists, identified through DSDnet and the I-DSD Registry, was performed in 2014.Results: A total of 77/124 (62%) clinicians, in 74 centres, from 38/42 (91%) countries res...

Background: The age at weaning programs life history adaptively. Shorter infancy resulted in longer/thinner animals with a reproductive-strategic shift to earlier physical and sexual development (BMC Med, 2013).Hypotheses: The length of infancy impacts also the stress-response and has behavioural consequences.Method: Sprague-Dawley pups (generation F1), which usually are weaned at age 21 days, were weaned by cross-fostering at age ...

Background: The optimal timing and appropriate first-line investigations for delayed menarche in an otherwise well teenager with fully developed secondary sexual characteristics is debatable.Case presentation: A 15 year-old female presented with parental concerns of cliteromegaly. Facial acne and primary amenorrhoea were also noted. Pubic hair development started at age 10 years and breast development age 12 years. Family history revealed delayed menarch...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) causes severe hypoglycaemia in children. Diazoxide and daily octreotide injections are first and second-line of treatment for CHI respectively. Diazoxide can cause severe hypertrichosis resulting in parental anxiety and compliance issues.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of Lanreotide therapy in CHI patients.Method: Patients >6 months of ...

Background: Nutritional rickets (NR) is the most common growing bone disease, and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) may predispose to other diseases (diabetes mellitus, cancer, and multiple sclerosis). Maternal VDD and exclusive breastfeeding without supplementation are the most frecuent causes of NR in the neonate. VDD is still a problem in Europe. There are few reports of maternal hypovitaminosis D and rickets in bottle-fed infants during early infancy. We report a case of Nutritio...

Background: Because the success rate of lifestyle interventions is modest in severely obese adolescents, surgical treatments are now proposed. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) represents an attractive treatment with minimal morbidity and reversible procedure.Method: All adolescents were included in prospective longitudinal assessment and entirely managed by a pediatric team. Surgery was proposed only after at least 1-year lifestyle interven...

Background: Paediatric thyrotoxicosis is both rarer and more severe than in adulthood, rendering management difficult, and often unsatisfactory.Objective: To review outcome in a geographically defined area between 1989 and 2013; hence to develop an algorithm for improved clinical care.Method: Retrospective case note review plus questionnaire to family doctor requesting update. Graves’ disease (GD) was defined as positive TSH-R...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) is characterised by inappropriate insulin secretion despite low blood glucose which is commonly diagnosed in infancy (before the age of 12 months). Screening of the >20 known genes identifies a mutation in over 45% of cases. The likelihood of identifying a mutation in a known gene in individuals diagnosed after 12 months is not currently known.Aim: We aimed to identify the ...