ESPE Abstracts

Initially discovered in the 1970s, the C21 steroidal acids α-cortolic acid, β-cortolic acid, α-cortolonic acid and β-cortolonic acid present the terminal oxidative products of cortisol metabolism. Undergoing renal elimination, these cortoic acids have been assumed to represent up to 25% of total urinary cortisol metabolites. However, their analysis has been difficult, only few data has been published in adults, and this class of steroids has beco...

Background: Biallelic mutations of the CYP11B2 aldosterone synthase gene cause deficiency of aldosterone synthesis. Patients exhibit isolated deficiency of aldosterone biosynthesis, increased plasma renin activity, increased steroid precursors desoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, as well as 18-hydroxy-desoxycorticosterone, and show salt wasting and poor growth. The aldosterone synthase enzyme has 18-hydroxylase (corticosterone methyloxidase type I, CMO I) and 18-oxidase (CMO ...

Background: Serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an important analyte for the clinical assessment of disorders of sex development. It is also reportedly a difficult analyte to measure. Currently there are significant gaps in the standardisation of this analyte, including no external quality assurance (EQA) program available worldwide to allow for peer performance review of DHT.Objective and hypotheses: We therefore proposed to establish an EQA program for ...

Background: Male preterm infants are at increased risk of neonatal mortality when compared to their female counterparts. The mechanisms explaining this male disadvantage are not fully elucidated yet.Objective and hypotheses: To compare glucocorticoid metabolite excretion in urine obtained at day 10 between male and female infants born with a very low birth weight (VLBW; i.e. <1500 g). We hypothesized that male preterm infants have impaired adrenocort...

Background: P450 oxidoreductase (POR) mutations can present with disordered sexual development (46,XX virilisation as well as 46,XY under-masculinisation), perturbed steroidogenesis and mild to severe skeletal malformations. As POR is an obligate electron donating cofactor to many P450s, and as this interaction may vary from partner to partner, the phenotypic spectrum of PORD is extremely broad. Therefore, to characterize novel POR mutations, specific testing is required.<...

Background: Disorders of androgen synthesis are rare causes of 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) that present with undervirilization or sex reversal.Objective: A history of a female adolescent with 46,XY DSD, initially suspected to have complete androgen insensitivity is presented.Methods: Patient history was obtained from the medical records. Urinary steroid profile was preformed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. T...

Background: We recently demonstrated that both ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) and lamivudine (3TC, a nucleoside analogue) given to breastfed infants can reduce the risk of post natal HIV transmission (ANRS 12174 trial; Nagot, Lancet 2016). In another setting we previously showed the occurrence of adrenal dysfunction in newborn perinatally exposed to LPV/r leading to acute adrenal insufficiency in premature babies (Simon, JAMA 2011).Objective and hyp...

Bile acids (BA) are C24 steroids synthesized from cholesterol in liver. Originally, they were mainly considered to function as emulsifiers supporting resorption of lipophilic food compounds and excretion of metabolic products. Recently, their additional biological and endocrine functions in the regulation of metabolism have aroused interest of researchers. In contrast to BA in blood, it is surprising that hardly any data exist on BA in the most accessible human biof...

In the history of biosynthetic GH, first prediction models on long term outcome of therapy were based on large multinational cohorts of various growth disorders and have concentrated on GH dose. In this study we analyzed the 1st year and final height (FH) data in a large single center cohort (center of expertise for rare growth disorders) and compared patient outcome and predictions in GHD and SGA. Our aim was to predict treatment outcome using simple previously suggested para...

Background: Low birth weight and unfavourable intrauterine conditions are associated with long-term effects on life.Objective and hypotheses: In a longitudinal study, we followed genetically identical twins with intra-twin birth-weight (bw) differences due to twin–twin transfusion syndrome from birth until after puberty. We propose that differences in birth weight lead to differences in hormone levels with effects on personality and cognitive functi...