ESPE Abstracts

Background: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue. Cardinal features affect cardiovascular system, eyes and skeleton. It is caused by mutations of FBN1 gene, which encodes the extracellular matrix protein fibrillin 1. The improper activation of TGFβ, due to defective fibrillin-1, is the pathophysiological mechanism. The altered modulation leads to overgrowth of long bones (disproportionate stature) and altered bone morphology.<p ...

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent a complex entity of neoplasm arising from different cell types of neural crest origin. They can produce and/or secrete various hormones or vasoactive substances. Usually sporadic, they can occur in association with other cancers, as part of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), von Hippel–Lindau disease, von Recklinghausen, tuberous sclerosis.Case report: We report a case of neuroendocrine t...

Background: Cytochrome C oxidase (COX) is the fourth component of the respiratory chain. This protein is located within the internal membrane of mitochondria. COX deficiency is an inherited mitochondrial disease associated with considerable genetic and clinical variability(1). In fact, four clinical subtypes of this condition have been identified, each one with several phenotypic and genetic variants. Mitochondrial complex IV deficiency nuclear type 4 is a rar...

Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate body composition and microcirculation in children and adolescents with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and the effects of replacement therapy. These parameters were also evaluated in children and adolescents with suspected GH deficiency but in whom drug stimulus testing was later found to be normal.Materials and Methods: We examined 44 patients (25 males and 19 females) aged betw...

Background: The initial L-T4 dose currently recommended in the treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is 10–15 mcg/kg per day.Objective and hypotheses: We designed a multicenter randomized trial to evaluate the effects of different starting doses of L-T4 within the range 10–15 mcg/kg per day on neurocognitive development in children with CH.Method: Seventy-two children with CH diagnosed by neonatal screening were enr...

Introduction: Dyslipidemia secondary to obesity is a risk factor related to cardiovascular disease events, however a pathological conventional lipid profile (CLP) is infrequently found in obese children. The objective of our study is to evaluate the advanced lipoprotein profile (ALP) and its relationship with cardiac changes, metabolic syndrome and inflammatory markers in a population of morbidly obese adolescents with normal CLP and without type 2 diabetes me...

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and bone alterations, probably due to lack of insulin and chronic hyperglycemia. Sclerostin and Dickkopfs-1 (DKK-1) are Wnt signaling inhibitors involved in bone remodelling.Objective and hypotheses: To assess serum levels of DKK-1 and sclerostin in T1DM children and adolescents on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or multiple daily therapy (MDI). We hypoth...

Background: Dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism is classically a monogenic disease with recessive inheritance. Thyroid dysgenesis showed a multigenic origin in a mouse model of double-heterozygous deletions of Nkx2.1/Pax8 transcription factor genes, suggesting a possible polygenic nature of certain cases of human hypothyroidism.Objective and Hypotheses: To investigate genetic traits of polygenic involvement in dyshormonogenic hypothyroidism,...

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is found in up to 50% of adolescents and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). High fracture risk has been described in adult PWS patients. This bone fragility could be due to inadequate gonadal hormones levels during pubertal development, and to relative growth hormone insufficiency during childhood and adolescence. However, the mechanism/s of low BMD in PWS have not been clarified.Objective and hypotheses: ...

The diagnosis of early thelarche is common in Pediatric Endocrinology consultations, with many cases lacking an organic cause. It can either spontaneously resolve, remain stable, or progress to precocious puberty. Early exposure to endocrine-disrupting environmental pollutants (EDs) with estrogenic and/or anti-androgenic effects during pregnancy or childhood may affect the timing of thelarche onset and/or puberty in girls. Further research is needed to better understand the in...