ESPE Abstracts

Background: Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumours (TARTs) are benign tumours that frequently occur in male patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. They exhibit both testicular and adrenal characteristics, but their aetiology is unknown. Additionally, TART resembles Leydig cell tumours (LCTs), while no marker exist to discriminate between these testis tumours. GATA transcription factors play an important role in eukaryotic development and are expressed in foetal and adult adren...

Background: Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century, and accounts for a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. In addition to the increased consumption of calories and lack of exercise, accumulating evidence suggests that childhood obesity is strongly associated with prolonged and excessive activation of the stress system.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to assess the ...

Background: POU1F1 encodes a pituitary-specific homeodomain transcription factor that is crucial for development and differentiation of anterior pituitary cell types. Mutations in this gene result in GH, TSH and prolactin (PRL) deficiencies.Objective and hypotheses: To describe a male newborn of a mother with known dominant p.R271W mutation in the POU1F1 gene.Methods: Case report with clinical follow up, endocrine investigations, n...

Background: Most children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) have a delayed bone age (BA). ISS with advanced BA is far less common. We studied three families with autosomal dominant short stature, unexplained BA acceleration, and premature growth cessation.Objective and hypotheses: To identify the genetic cause of this condition and describe its clinical spectrum.Method: Whole exome sequencing was performed in selected individuals...

Background: Since the initiation of neonatal screening-programs for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in the 1970’s, an increase in the incidence of CH has been observed. This change has been attributed to the gradual use of lower TSH cut-offs that lead to the detection of milder cases of CH. Based on currently used screening cut-offs, CH occurs in approximately 1:2 000 to 1:4 000 newborns, varying by geographic location and ethnicity. A female predominance, approaching a 2:...

Background: Van Wyk-Grumbach syndrome (VWGS) is a rare diagnosis that should be suspected in children with signs of peripheral precocious puberty and hypothyroidism. It is characterized by multicystic enlarged ovaries, in the presence of long-term severe hypothyroidism. Treatment of VWGS consists of hormonal replacement with levothyroxine. Usually, ovarian cysts and increased ovarian volume subside within an average of 2 months but can persist up to 12 months after treatment.<...

Introduction: Thyroid abnormalities such as subclinical or overt hypothyroidism are common in children with Down syndrome (DS) with ranges from 4% to 19.5%, whereas Graves´ disease (GD) is extremely rare (ranges 0.6%-0.9 %).Aims: To evaluate clinical features, course, and treatment of GD in children with DS.Patients and Methods: Among 161 children with GD, diagnosed between 1...

Though up to fourteen different MODY subtypes have been so far described, there are no studies in the literature which have determined their actual frequency and prevalence in pediatric patients.Objectives: To identify the underlying molecular basis in a cohort of pediatric patients with a suspected clinical diagnosis of MODY by targeted NGS.Materials/Methods: Cohort of 60 patient fulfilling MODY c...

In Italy, treatment of children with CP is not centralized. We collected data of 117 patients (pts) (M/F 56/41) with CP diagnosed after 01/01/2000, followed-up in 14 centres of paediatric endocrinology belonging to the I.S.P.E.D. Five centres provided data on more than 10 pts (range 12-19), while the remaining on 1-9. 46 pts were diagnosed between 2000-2010 and 71 afterwards. Follow-up was 7.5±4.1 yrs.Results. Histology was adamanti...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a multifaceted and debilitating illness characterized by self-induced starvation, persistent anxiety about weight gain, preoccupation with body image, and maladaptive food choices. It is characterized by the disruption in homeostatic energy balance mechanisms and the persistence of homeostatic hunger is overridden by dysfunctional self-regulatory and reward pathways that drive food aversion and severely restrict food intake. Epidemiological studies hav...