ESPE Abstracts

Background: Adrenarche describes the developmental event of the human adrenal cortex when the zona reticularis increases the synthesis of C19 steroids (DHEA/-S) markedly at around 6-8 years of age. Early appearance of this event is called premature adrenarche (PA) and has been associated with adverse outcomes including polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome. Recently novel biosynthetic pathways of androgen production have been revealed, but their rol...

Background: Somapacitan is a reversible albumin-binding growth hormone (GH) derivative developed for once-weekly administration in patients with GH deficiency (GHD). It consists of a human GH backbone, similar to endogenous human GH, with one amino acid substitution, attached to an albumin binder via a linker chain.Objective: Absorption, metabolism and excretion (AME) of somapacitan were investigated in a Phase 1 trial (...

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP1a) is characterized by Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) and multi-hormone resistance, most commonly to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone. This rare disorder is caused by inactivating mutations involving exons 1–13 of the imprinted GNAS gene that encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gαs). Due to paternal imprinting of Gαs transcripts, GNAS mutati...

Background: Undescended testes in patients with defective mini-puberty contain germ cells that fail to differentiate normally into Ad spermatogonia and ultimately leads to infertility. Six months treatment with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone GnRH increases luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion and rescues fertility in the majority of pathological cryptorchid testes. Several Y chromosomal genes in the male-specific Y region (MSY) are essential for spermatogenesis, ...

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is an X-linked, metabolic disorder caused by genetic deficiency of peroxisomal ALD protein resulting in accumulation of very-long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) primarily in the adrenal cortex and central nervous system. Approximately 35–40% of boys with ALD develop cerebral ALD (CALD), which causes rapidly progressive cerebral demyelination, loss of neurologic function, and death. Disease progress can be halted by allogeneic hematopoietic cell trans...

Childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (CO-GHD) is topical at present due to the increasing understanding of underlying genetic aetiologies, influence on childhood growth, and future effects on adolescence and adult health. There is no previous Irish data of this group of children.Methods: A retrospective cohort study over 2 years (2013-2015) including all children diagnosed with GHD who received recombinant growth hormone treatment (rGH). Predictors ...

Background: During early bone formation, mesenchymal stem-cells condense and differentiate into collagen type 2-expressing chondrocytes which form the cartilaginous bone anlagen. This anlage becomes enclosed by the perichondrium. The perichondrium consists of two layers, the inner cambium layer containing chondrocyte- and osteo-precursor cells and the outer fibrous layer important for mechanical and structural support. While the regulation of the growth plate is increasingly w...

Background: TransCon hGH is a long-acting prodrug of recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) that releases fully active unmodified hGH into the blood compartment. This presentation will detail the final safety and efficacy results of TransCon hGH in a Phase 2 study in children with GHD over a treatment period of six months.Objective and hypotheses: The objective of this Phase 2 study in GHD was to investigate 1) safety and tolerability, 2) pharmacokinetic...

Background: TransCon hGH, is a once-weekly prodrug releasing unmodified hGH, for the treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) in children and adults. To date, TransCon hGH has demonstrated comparable efficacy, safety and anti-hGH immunogenic profile to daily hGH, with no occurrence of neutralizing antibodies.Objective and hypotheses: Protein-based therapies may be associated with generation of drug-specific antibodies, which may impact efficacy, part...

Background: Children’s exposure to stress predicts poor health. Poor growth and maturation are recognized indicators of poor health.Objective and hypotheses: SE correlates with height, BMI and menarche. We correlated seven indicators of SE with countries’ average adult height, BMI and menarche age.Method: Data for 57 countries of average men and women’s height, BMI and menarche age were collected from WHO report. The...