ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Male puberty is initiated by endocrine signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis whereby follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) enable testicular maturation and synthesis of testosterone. Recent publications have eluded to overnutrition and obesity as relevant factors that may accelerate the timing of puberty. Attainment of testicular volume (TV) 4 ml measured by Prader orchidometer remains the definition of male puber...

A ten year old girl was brought by the emergency mobile service for a persistent status epilepticus despite administration of Diazepam on site. She had presented headaches for the last three days and one episode of fever was suspected but not measured four days earlier. She had one episode of dizziness five days earlier.Persistent status epilepticus required invasive ventilation as well as deep sedation with Levetiracetam, Midazolam, ketamine, phenytoin,...

Background and hypotheses: Recent results showing elevated tetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocorticosterone ratio (THFs/THE) in morning urines of diabetic children compared to controls suggest an increased nocturnal activity of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1). We made the hypothesis that a reduced inhibition of hepatic 11β-HSD1 activity by exogenous insulin, due to its subcutaneous (SC) administration and absence of first hepatic passage, could ex...

Background: The deciphering of the physiological importance of the GH secretagogue receptor (Ghsr), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) depicted as the sole receptor of the pleiotropic hormone ghrelin, was initially compromised by the modest phenotype observed in Ghsr−/− animals. This lack of a robust response to total loss of Ghsr may result from developmental compensatory signals. Still, the description of rare mutations in the GHSR p...

Background: Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of gene CYP24A1 have recently been reported to cause idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia due to increased intestinal absorption of calcium. However, an autosomal dominant transmission with partial penetrance of the trait was also suggested.Objective and hypotheses: Evaluation of the frequency of CYP24A1 mutation and evaluation of the impact of heterozygous mutation on calcium meta...

Background: Although growth hormone (GH) and the GH releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) are known as etiologic factors in non-syndromic isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), very few mutations have been identified in this rare condition (accounting for only 6–12.5% and 0–6.7% of IGHD cases depending on studies). The functional consequences of the identified variants have rarely been assessed.Objective and hypotheses: To assess the contribut...

The 1st lockdown from March to May 2020 probably led to an increase in the number of cases of idiopathic central precocious puberty in several European countries. Two Italian studies showed this, as well as a Spanish and a Turkish one. We performed a retrospective study with all the children who came to our department for a 1st appointment or a check-up for pubertal signs between 01/04/2017 and 31/03/2021. We checked the data of 765 files and kept only the children with a diag...

Gender dysphoria indicates a psychological distress due to any incongruence between biological sex and gender identity, while transgender identity refers to an individual, whose gender identity is the opposite of the biological sex. The number of gender dysphoric youth seeking hormonal care seems to rise worldwide. Therefore, numerous bioethical and medical controversies are raising about possible side effects of hormonal therapies, including interference with brain developmen...

Data on the birth parameters of patients with growth hormone deficiency are contradictory; recent studies suggest that congenital growth hormone deficiency is associated with impaired fetal growth. The main objective of this study was to describe the birth parameters of children with GH-1 gene deletion.This study included 13 patients (of 10 families) for whom a homozygous (or compound heterozygous) deletion of the entire GH1 gene has been identi...

Background: Vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) is the most common urologic abnormality seen in children. It represents the backflow of urine from bladder to upper urinary structures due to a defect in closure of uretero-vesical junction. This condition predisposes children to repetitive pyelonephritis associated with renal scarring.Objective: Studies are continuously searching for the potential effect of VUR on growth. We aimed to assess growth indices: height...