ESPE Abstracts

Background: The most common endocrine cause of growth disorders in childhood is growth hormone deficiency (GHD). The rare monogenic forms of GHD are inherited as autosomal dominant or recessive traits and manifest as isolated deficiency or in combination with other hormone deficiencies. Here, we report on a three-year-old girl with a severe growth retardation (height 77 cm, – 5.6 S.D.S.). She is the only child of non-consanguineous parents from northern Ira...

Background: Prenatal dexamethasone treatment (Pdex) has been used since the 1980s to prevent virilization in female offspring suspected to have congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). However, due to lack of strong evidence for its best practice as well as limited data regarding long term adverse effects, use of dex is highly controversial. This study reveals the current medical practice regarding Pdex in female fetuses at risk of CAH due to 21 hydroxylase defic...

Purpose: Childhood-onset craniopharyngiomas (CP) are diagnosed due to clinical symptoms (symCP) or incidentally (incCP). In childhood-onset CP, studies on history before CP diagnosis have revealed symptoms and complaints related to CP, which were documented in CP patients’ records with a median duration of 5 months prior to CP diagnosis. We investigated clinical manifestations and outcome in incCPs and symCPs.Methods:</stro...

Background: Cranioparyngiomas are rare low-grade embryonic malformational tumors of the sellar/parasellar region. The prognosis after diagnosis during childood and adolescence is influenced by endocrine and hypothalamic long-term sequelae. A legal status of the degree of disability (GdB), according to the German Social Code Book V that is worthy of support provides financial means for psychosocial rehabilitation and participation of craniopharyngioma survivors...

Objectives: Despite high prevalence rates of childhood obesity, youth-onset T2DM occurs in a comparably lower incidence in Europe than in other world regions. Available data from cohorts of obese children and adolescents living in the US suggest a parallel decline of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function as key factors in the pathophysiology of early-onset T2DM. If these results can be applied to European children and adolescents is currently unknown.</...

Introduction: Congenital leptin deficiency can be treated with the human leptin analogon metreleptin as first reported in 1999. To date, the long-term effects (> 1 year) of metreleptin treatment on anthropometry and comorbidities have only been described in 8 patients with leptin deficiency. Here, we present the long-term effects of metreleptin substitution on weight and comorbidities in a patient with bioinactive leptin.Metho...

Objective: Re-testing of childhood-onset GHD needs discontinuation of GH treatment at near-adult height. We recently reported significant changes of body composition as a consequence of severe GHD during this time period.Aim: Does a 6 month interruption of GH treatment decrease bone quality significantly in patients with severe GHD of adolescence?Patients and Methods: In 90 patient...

Objectives: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes in adults. In obese children and adolescents, IFG and impaired glucose tolerance constitute distinct prediabetic stages, which do not necessarily coexist. Pathophysiological mechanisms leading to IFG in children have not been fully elucidated. Available data from cohorts of obese adolescents living in the US suggest a concurrent worsening of insulin sensitivity a...

Background: In males with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH), LH/FSH stimulation of gonads is deficient. In clinical practice, two hormone replacement strategies are employed to induce and maintain virilisation: Treatment with testosterone and gonadotropin replacement with hCG/rFSH.Objective: To delineate the role of gonadotropins in pathways of male androgen biosynthesis and to thereby better define the gona...

Introduction: Congenital central hypothyroidism is a rare pathology, whose molecular origin has been identified more frequently since discovery of the role of IGSF1. The natural evolution of central hypothyroidism in patients with mutations is not well known however.Case report: A male infant born at term with a normal birth weight received thyroid function tests in the neonatal period because of symptoms of bra...