ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: There seems to be an undoubting, but still puzzling, relationship between obesity and premature adrenarche (PA).Aim: To characterize a population of prepubertal girls with PA and to compare girls with a normal body mass index (BMI) with girls who are overweight or obese, in what regards gestational age and birth weight, age at the referral, clinical signs, anthropometry, bone age and hormone profile.<p ...

Objective: Acute adrenal crisis is one of the main concerns in children with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The aim of this study was to evaluate hypoglycemic and salt-wasting episodes in children with an established diagnosis of classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) after start of treatment.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted for 85 patients with classic CAH (68 salt-wasting and 17 simple virilizing), aged 1 to...

Poland’s syndrome is characterised by unilateral absence or hypoplasia of the pectoralis muscle, associated with the ipsilateral malformation of the hand. The syndrome is usually sporadic and occurs in about 1:32.000 live births. Poland’s syndrome has been described associated with other abnormalities, including renal aplasia or hypoplasia, hemivertebra, Klippel-Feil syndrome and Moebius’ syndrome. In literature are reported six cases of Moebius syndrome associa...

Introduction: In human, the development of the embryonic gonads represents a complex process involving a large number of genes, some still unknown. Specific pathways have a crucial role for the normal ovarian development, the germ cell genomic stability and hormonal maintenance. These pathways’ dysregulation can lead to POF, clinically manifesting as the absence of pubertal onset and/or amenorrhea.Objective: To identify candidate genes responsible f...

Background: The Wilms tumor suppressor gene 1 (WT1) is essential for kidney and gonadal development. WT1 gene mutations are associated with two syndromes called Denys-Drash (DDS) and Frasier (FS) that clinically overlap and differ in the type of mutation and in the age at nephropathy onset. In 46,XY subjects WT1 mutations are associated with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS), Wilms tumor, disorder of sex development (DSD) with dysgenetic gonads and gonadoblastoma risk....

Background: Obesity is usually correlated with a higher prevalence of 25OH vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency. This might be due to either volumetric dilution of vitamin D in the large fat mass or its increased uptake by adipose tissue. To our knowledge, a systematic study on 25OHD levels in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a genetic disorder associated with severe obesity, is not available.Objective and hypotheses: To analyze the 25OHD values in a population of p...

Background: Growth retardation is seen in about 30% of children with chronic renal failure (CRF). Under-nutrition, anaemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, acidosis, corticosteroid therapy and abnormalities in the GH/insulin like growth factor system have been implicated. Recombinant GH (rGH) therapy is recommended in children showing failure to maintain a normal height velocity despite optimized primary treatments.Objective and hypotheses: It has been de...

Background: The Adrenocortical Neoplasm (ACN) is a rare condition in childhood (0,3 cases/1000000). In paediatric age, ACN at stage 1 is treated by complete adrenalectomy, while at stages 2 and 3 surgery is followed by adjuvant treatment with Mitotane (M). Chemotherapy is required in metastatic cases (stage 4).Objective and hypotheses: M is an adrenal cytotoxic agent which has both adrenolytic action on ACN cells and inhibition on steroid hormone synthes...

Background: The onset of physiological puberty in females is characterized by physical, hormonal, and genital changes. However, a single specific parameter to early identify these modifications does not exist; its identification could be extremely useful in the evaluation of pubertal development disorders. The uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), defined as systolic peak – diastolic peak/average speed of maximum flow, is an expression of vascular compliance in the uteri...

Background: GnRH analogs (GnRHa) have been used in the management of central precocious puberty (CPP). The response to GnRHa treatment are evaluated by clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic criteria. However, a single parameter to define the adequacy of therapy is not defined. The uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), defined as systolic peak – diastolic peak/average speed of maximum flow, is an expression of vascular compliance in the uterine artery. Circulating estr...