ESPE Abstracts

Background: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant disorder of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism characterised by elevated levels of plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the Gulf Co-operation Council states, CVD is often diagnosed at a younger age and is the leading cause of mortality. As such, early genetic diagnosis and treatment of FH is important for ri...

Background: Genetic diversity of mutations in the CYP21A2 gene is the main cause of the monogenic Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) disorder. On chromosome 6p23.1, the CYP21A2 gene is partially overlapped by the TNXB gene and reside in tandem with their highly homologous corresponding pseudogenes (CYP21A1P and TNXA), which leads to recurrent homologous recombination.Methods and Results: The genetic s...

Objectives: To describe clinical, hormonal and genetic findings of an under-virilized infant male, 13 month old, of afghani origin, presented at the emergency department with salt-wasting adrenal crisis.Case report: The patient, a 13 month old male infant, presented at the emergency department with complaints of vomiting and fever. Physical examination was significant for severe dehydration along with perineal hypospadia...

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg), a protein synthesized uniquely in the thyroid gland, may be elevated in primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) due to increased TSH drive, absent in true athyreosis and Tg deficiency, and very elevated in some types of dyshormonogenesis.Hypothesis: Serum Tg at the time of newborn screening may reflect the amount of thyroid tissue present in apparent athyreosis and thyroid ectopia, and henc...

Background: The adrenal cortex undergoes constant cellular renewal and any effect from recombinant adeno-associated vectors (rAAV) targeting differentiated cells will be transient as extra-chromosomal DNA will be lost by dividing cells. A novel option is to use rAAV to express ectopic adrenocortical enzymes in a stable organ outside the adrenal gland. Our aim was to correct the biochemical phenotype in a mouse model for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) wit...

Introduction: Failure to thrive (FTT) is a common entity encountered by pediatricians. It can be caused by inadequate energy intake or “organic causes” such as inborn errors of metabolism or disorders of the endocrine system. One cause that is rarely seen is a deficiency of aldosterone.Case presentation: A set of 3-month-old monozygotic male twins presented with failure to thrive and dehydration. Initially, they were evaluated ...

Background: There is evidence that baseline and peak cortisol response to the low dose short Synacthen test (LDSST) varies with pubertal status and gender in children with asthma on inhaled corticosteroids. There are no published data reporting effects of puberty on cortisol response to the insulin tolerance test (ITT) in childhood and adolescence.Objective and hypotheses: To determine whether pubertal status, age or gender influence basal and peak corti...

Introduction: Ovary development was once considered a largely passive process. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) approaches have allowed us to begin to characterise ovary development in previously unparalleled detail, revealing the process to be complex and, still, little understood. A challenge is synthesising and using these data to advance our understanding of clinical disease. Through a clinically-focused lens, we elucidate novel aspects of the transcriptional lands...

Background: Acquired hypothalamic damage frequently causes obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), often refractory to treatment. The interaction of hormonal, neuronal and psychological factors underlying hypothalamic obesity (HO) remains poorly understood.Methods: In fasted and fed states participants underwent blood sampling (GLP-1, insulin, PYY, ghrelin and glucose), fMRI scanning (viewing food/non-food photographs) and assessment of hunger and sati...

Background: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare inherited disease characterized by mineralocorticoid resistance with subsequent salt wasting, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and elevated plasma renin and aldosterone levels.Patients and methods: We report a male newborn that presented with failure to thrive and sustained hyponatremia during his early postnatal period. He was conceived after IVF (twin pregnancy) and prematurely born by cesare...