ESPE Abstracts

Background: Cis-gender females are known to mount stronger immune responses to invading pathogens or vaccines than cis-gender males. However, this is also associated with increased risk of autoimmunity. Little is known about the immunophenotypes of transgender individuals on gender-affirming hormonal treatment, despite growing evidence that hormones influence the immune system. Via the process of class-switch recombination (CSR), B-cell immunoglobulin isotype ...

Introduction: Monogenic obesity refers to a group of rare, early-onset forms of obesity and accounts for about 7% of patients with severe pediatric obesity. Recent reports demonstrate the emerging role of Src-homology-2 (SH2) B adaptor protein 1 (Sh2b1), an important component in the leptin-melanocortin pathway, as a key regulator of leptin and insulin signaling, with possible roles in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. SH2B1 deletions are found to be a...

Background: Long-term glucocorticoid therapy with Prednisolone or Deflazacort has improved outcomes in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), however recommended dosages suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to adrenal insufficiency. All boys prescribed glucocorticoid therapy should be assumed to have adrenal suppression, and therefore at risk of adrenal crisis during illness or stress (eg. surgery, bisphosphonate infusions). The ...

Background: Kinase suppressor of Ras 2 (KSR2) gene codes for a scaffold protein modulating intracellular pathways that involve MEK/BRAF cascade and AMPK signaling. KSR2 plays an important role in energy balance regulation, and KSR2 mutations were reported to be associated with obesity and insulin resistance in mice and humans. In transfected cells, several KSR2 mutations lead to impaired fatty acid oxidation, which improved under met...

Background: Diazoxide and octreotide are first and second-line of treatment for HH respectively. Long-acting somatostatin analogue (Lanreotide, LA) has been used in adults with neuroendocrine conditions through its effect on somatostatin receptors 2 (SSTR2) and 5 (SSTR5).Objective and hypotheses: (i) To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of LA therapy in children with HH. (ii) To determine somatostatin receptor expression on pancreatic al...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is cause of severe hypoglycaemia. Octreotide (somatostatin analogue), given as four times daily s.c. injections or via a pump, is used as second line treatment in diazoxide unresponsive CHI patients.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of a long acting somatostatin analogue (Lanreotide) in patients with CHI.Method: Diffuse CHI patients above three years ...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) causes severe hypoglycaemia in children. Diazoxide and daily octreotide injections are first and second-line of treatment for CHI respectively. Diazoxide can cause severe hypertrichosis resulting in parental anxiety and compliance issues.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of Lanreotide therapy in CHI patients.Method: Patients >6 months of ...

Background: Hypospadias affects approximately 1/200 newborn males. Based on the testicular dysgenesis syndrome hypothesis, some may be suspected of having persistent testicular dysfunction later in life. Few clinical data currently support this hypothesis.Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of hypospadias cases (n = 193) and controls (n = 50), aged 16-21 years, recruited at Ghent University Hospital and...

Background: Bilateral testicular regression (BTR) is characterized by the absence of both testicles in a newborn male or shortly thereafter, and presenting as bilateral cryptorchidism with undetectable AMH levels and the absence of Müllerian structures on pelvic ultrasound. Depending on when the regression occurs during fetal development, the condition can be associated with a micropenis. Few studies have explored the etiology and long-term outcome of BTR...

Background: The COVID-19 crisis required paediatric endocrinologists to rapidly adopt telehealth into their clinical practice. Accurate auxology is a cornerstone of paediatric endocrinology care and is needed to monitor growth and guide medication changes. Remote consultations depend upon parent-reported measurements. However, home height measurements are often inaccurate.Aim: We designed a quality improvement study with...