ESPE Abstracts

Background: Small for gestational age (SGA) children who experience rapid and exaggerated postnatal catch-up are prone to develop insulin resistance and to progress faster into puberty, resulting in a shorter final height. Short, non-catch-up SGA children treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) may present with the same sequence. In a previous controlled study from our group performed in short SGA children, metformin – added to rhGH therapy – improved endocrine-meta...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) occurs due to different aetiologies, morphological abnormalities in pituitary, or mutations leading the individual to lose the genetic growth potential. The pituitary dysfunction can be as GHD alone or associated with other hormones deficiencies. Patients with abnormalities in pituitary may present a greater height loss than others and couldn’t reach the target height (TH) according to final height (FH).Objectives: To...

Background: A growth prediction model would not only allow patients with growth disorders the opportunity to see the expected effect of their recombinant human growth hormone (r hGH) treatment, but also support healthcare professionals to individualise treatment to optimise growth outcomes.Aim: To develop a growth prediction model in children with growth disorders.Patients and Methods: Height and c...

Background: Treatment for growth disorders requires daily injections of recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) over multiple years, and automated devices may help in this regard. The ability to adjust injection device settings, which are pre-set as default unless changed by healthcare professionals, may improve patient comfort and needle anxiety and thereby improve adherence.Aim: To study the association between inject...

Abstract: The SARS-CoV-2 virus uses ACE2 combined with the transmembrane-protease TMPRSS2 to enter and infect thyroid follicular cells. Studies have reported a higher incidence of hyperthyroidism cases during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic periods. Studies have also been reported cases of thyroid dysfunction early after mass covid vaccinations. However, there are insufficient data to confirm these associations in children.<p class="abstext"...

Background: Differential diagnosis between XY partial (PGD) and mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) was initially established by histological evaluation; however, when there is a 45,X lineage there are differences not only in clinical aspects but also in prognosis.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this work was to analyze clinical picture of patients with genital ambiguity due to testicular dysgenesis, with and without a 45,X lineage, and compare these con...

In the typical developing gonad, cells with XY chromosomes become masculinised into Sertoli cells, leading to the development of the bipotential gonad into testes. Disruptions to sex determining genes and transcription factors, or XX chromosome complement, typically leads to failure of Sertoli cell development. In the study of sex determination, upregulation of specific genes in animal models has sucessfully led to male factor expression in XX cells in some animals but not in ...

Aim of our study was to assess clinical characteristics and complementary studies, in patients who consulted the Endocrinology Department of our pediatric hospital, referred by pediatricians to discard precocious puberty.Methodology: it is a descriptive study based on review of medical records, with first consultation between 2010 and 2018. Criteria were developed to assign patients to one of six diagnostic categories based on age, growt...

GLI2 is a downstream transcription factor in Sonic Hedgehog signaling, acting early in ventral forebrain and pituitary development. Heterozygous GLI2 mutations have been reported in patients with isolated or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD).Objective: Study of genetic etiology of the hypopituitarism and identification of the genetic alteration in GLI2 gene.Methodology: Molecular study: Search for varia...

Introduction: The outcome of hypospadias is considered to be primarily dependent on the underlying aetiology, its surgical management and the duration of follow-up. However, currently, there is little consensus on what set of parameters are essential and clinically feasible for assessment of outcome.Aim: To facilitate the development of a core outcome set for hypospadias by assessment of the range of outcomes reported in boys undergoing surgery.<p cl...