ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Mandibular hypoplasia, Deafness, Progeroid features, Lipodystrophy (MDPL) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutation in POLD1 gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the DNA polymerase delta (Polδ) enzyme.Case: a 6.5-year-old boy presented to the outpatient clinic due to severe thinness (BMI -4.86 SDS, WHO 2006 growth charts). Examination of his medical history rev...

Background: Currently, 1-4% of newborns have cryptorchidism and 30% of them have bilateral cryptorchidism (BC). BC should rule out 46, XX Disorder of Sexual Development (DSD). In 46, XY patients gonosomal abnormalities, alterations in genes involved in 46, XY DSD or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may be the cause. Currently, patients with BC undergo early orchiopexy in the first 18 months of life. However, in these patients, BC etiology, pubertal development an...

Background: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by the absence or severely impaired activity of enzymes involved in adrenal steroid biosynthesis, with over 90% of cases resulting from 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The initial presentation of CAH can range from a dramatic adrenal crisis with salt loss to more subtle signs such as female genital ambiguity or male scrotal hyperpigmentation. Timely identification...

Introduction: The short stature homeobox-containing gene, SHOX, encodes a homeodomain transcription factor responsible for a significant proportion of long-bone growth. Growth impairment is a common manifestation in SHOX deficient patients (SHOXD), with variable degrees of height disablement. The growth promoter treatment of SHOXD patients consists in the administration of recombinant human GH (rhGH). In Italy, the allowed formulation of rhGH (somatropine, Hum...

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) refers to a group of rare diseases characterized by post-receptor resistance to parathyroid hormone and other protein hormones (TSH, GHRH, LH, FSH), due to defects in the Gsα protein. PHP can be associated with the phenotype known as Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), which includes round face, short stature, brachydactyly, ectopic ossifications and mental retardation. Diagnosis often stem out fro...

Background: Pituitary hyperplasia secondary to primary hypothyroidism (PHPH) is a rare cause of sellar mass in paediatric patients. Longstanding and untreated primary hypothyroidism leads to hyperplasia of thyrotrophs and lactotrophs as well as transdifferentiation of somatotrophs to thyrotrophs. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in PHPH. Clinical findings of PHPH include growth retardation, obesity and symptoms of hypothy...

Background: MADaM syndrome associated with MTX2 gene, is a very rare premature-aging syndrome, caused by a homozygous mutation in the MTX2 gene, which encodes for metaxin-2, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein involved in protein translocation into mitochondria and in TNF-a- induced apoptosis.Case report: Term male newborn, due to a physiological pregnancy [birth weight 4230 g (1.61 SD), length 56 cm (3.24 SD), head c...

Introduction: Nephroblastoma or Wilms tumor is the most common pediatric abdominal malignancy. Typically, it is found in children younger than 5 years old, girls being more likely to have Wilms tumor than boys. The etiology of the disease is genetic, due to alteration in the development of the genitourinary tract.[1] Treatment is represented by surgery (unilateral nephrectomy), chemo- and radio-therapy. Paraneoplastic endocrine disorders may occur, but there a...

Background-Aim: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in the steroidogenic pathway of the adrenal cortex. In their most severe forms, they produce adrenal insufficiency and virilization of external genitalia when involving the terminal enzymes of the cortisol and aldosterone synthesis pathway (21-hydroxylase (21-OHD, OMIM#201910) and 11-hydroxylase (11-OHD, OMIM#202010) deficiencies). Mutations of <e...

Background: 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) basal levels greater than 2ng/ml has been related to the need to request an ACTH test to dismiss non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. We have seen an increase in baseline levels in 2021 compared to 2020.Objectives: To determine how many of the tests that were requested due to a high basal 17-OHP value, were positive. Assess the need to modify the cut-off points to reques...