ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a hereditary disease characterized by a wide range of skeletal signs. Mutations in COL1A1/A2 have been known to cause dominant OI. Recently, a heterozygous mutation in the 5′-UTR of IFITM5 (c.−14C>T) was identified as a new cause of dominant OI. We present three patients from three different families with two mutations in IFITM5 with extremely different phenotypes.Description...

Background: Standard assays for serum cortisol measurements determine total cortisol (TC) concentrations but not the unbound biologically active serum free cortisol (sFC). Measurement of TC would be greatly influenced by alteration in cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) concentrations. It is, therefore, important to determine sFC levels when CBG levels are either decreased or increased.Objective and hypotheses: To determine basal and glucagon-stimulated sFC ...

Background: Mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) is the second most frequent cause of XY disorders of sex development (DSD). Genotype is either X/XY or XY, while the phenotype ranges from partial to complete gonadal dysgenesis, and from female to male external genitalia. Müllerian remnants are present in these patients because of insufficient or untimely foetal secretion of Müllerian inhibiting factor (MIF).Aim: To assess the therapeutic policy of ph...

IMNEPD is a mitochondrial disease caused by homozygous mutations in the PTRH2 gene, a nuclear gene coding for a primary mitochondrial protein. IMNEPD was first described in 2014. So far only 3 other case reports have been published, reporting on a total of 15 patients. We report on two affected siblings of whom the girl developed an antibody negative diabetes at 13 years of age with typical symptoms (polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss of 1,5 kg), and without diabetic k...

Background: The polyethylene glycol (PEG) method, which utilizes the addition of PEG to precipitate immunoglobulin fractions in order to measure free thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), has been implemented as a tool for investigating incongruities in TSH measurement.Aim of the study: To investigate the practical application of PEG-TSH testing in pediatric scenarios with a discrepancy between elevated TSH and normal free ...

Background: Recent guidelines suggest that NCCAH subjects stop their glucocorticoid therapy after achieving adult height. However, these guidelines do not differentiate between genotype groups within the NCCAH population.Aim: Compare ACTH stimulated cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) levels, and the rate of partial cortisol insufficiency in NCCAH subjects carrying one mild and one severe (mild/severe) mutation v...

Background/Aims: Length and weight of all children in Flanders are monitored every three years at school from the age of 3 years. The current criteria used for referral to specialized care are: height SDS < -2.5, height SDS between -2 and -2.5 SDS with a height SDS adjusted for parental height < -1.64, or a decrease in height SDS of more than 1 SDS in the past 3 years. The aim of this study is to investigate the sensitivity of the Flemish referral criter...

Context: Synthetic corticosteroids are medications frequently prescribed for a wide range of medical indications. Various preparations differ in their biological effect, mode of administration, potency and duration of action. Comprehensive knowledge is essential in order to prescribe corticosteroids in an efficient yet safe manner.Objectives: To explore pediatricians' practices and attitudes regarding corticosteroid ...

Background: Alterations of pre- and early postnatal growth can have long lasting impact on adult height, body composition and metabolic health throughout life. In monozygotic twins discordant for prenatal growth due to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), we previously demonstrated lower cord blood IGF-I concentrations and earlier pubertal maturation, indicative of prenatal programming of endocrine systems, to be linked to reduced final height of the form...

Purpose: Clinical problems caused by impaired molecular function of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) genes are not limited to the immunological system but can also affect the endocrine system. An autosomal recessive form of severe congenital neutropenia also known as Kostmann syndrome (KS) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the mitochondrial protein HAX1. Knowing that most endocrine disorders associated with IEI are hypofunction, a close cooperation be...