ESPE Abstracts

Early identification of monogenic obesity, a rare condition, is quite challenging for pediatricians. Src-homology-2 (SH2) B adapter protein 1 (SH2B1) is an important component in the leptin-melanocortin pathway and it is found to play an important role in leptin and insulin signaling. In humans a rare deletion of a 220-kb region on chromosome 16p11.2 encompassing approximately 9 genes, including the SH2B1 gene, is associated with a highly penetrant form of isolated severe earl...

Background: Terminal or interstitial deletions of Xp (Xp22.2→Xpter) in males have been recognized as a cause of contiguous gene syndromes showing variable association of apparently unrelated clinical manifestations such as Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (SHOX), chondrodysplasia punctata (ARSE), mental retardation (NLGN4), ichthyosis (STS), Kallmann syndrome (KAL1), and ocular albinism (GPR143).Case reports: We report ...

Introduction: We report a series of three siblings, two girls and one boy, diagnosed with Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) respectively at the age of 5.66, 6.67 and 8.5 years, carrying a mutation in the gene encoding the makorin RING finger protein 3 (MKRN3), usually responsible for the development of familial CPP.Methods: We diagnosed CPP in all the patients by performing a GnRH test. We also dosed basal levels of LH, F...

Background: Extra Uterine Growth Restriction (EUGR) represents a serious comorbidity in infants born very low birth weight (VLBW). In fact, failure in postnatal growth and malnutrition at vulnerable ages can interfere with growth recovery and neurodevelopment at older ages.Hypothesis: Aim of the study was to assess whether and how the postnatal early growth patterns of VLBW may affect later growth, spontaneous motility a...

Precocious Puberty is defined by the onset of pubertal development at an age 2-2,5 standard deviations earlier than the normal population. Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is diagnosed when the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is activated. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (Gn-RH analogues) are the main treatment option, but sometimes controversial. Whether this treatment influences children's body mass index (BMI) and a different BMI progression is still unclear.<p...

Introduction: The low-dose synacthen test (LDT) is widely used to assess central adrenal insufficiency (CAI); however, the total serum cortisol (C) cut-off value is controversial. A correct diagnosis of CAI is required, but overdiagnosis may lead to unnecessary hormone replacement therapy. Salivary cortisol (SC) reflects the levels of free serum cortisol and is a noninvasive alternative.Objective: To define a new cut-off value of serum cortisol in pediat...

Aim: The most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia and related brain damage in infancy is congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), due to inappropriate secretion of insülin by pancreatic βcells. The most frequent and most serious mutations are activating mutations in ABBC8 or KCNJ11 genes. Genetic analyses, which might predict the type of lesion, performed in early period and 18f dopa pet scanning are very valuable for treatment choice and follow-up of the patients. In t...

Background and objective: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) refers to a heterogeneous group of rare endocrine disorders caused by genetic or epigenetic abnormalities affecting the GNAS locus. It is mainly characterized by resistance to PTH and TSH and a complete or partial Albright Hereditary Osteodistrophy (AHO) phenotype. Few data so far exist on LH/FSH, calcitonin and glucose-lipid metabolism involvement, as well as on neurocognitive aspects. The aim of this multicentre study ...

Background: Vitamin D supplementation is widely recommended to infants, but the optimal dose remains unclear. Vitamin D regulates calcium metabolism, and overdosing and high intake may result in hypercalcemia.Objective and hypotheses: We measured serum pH-adjusted ionized calcium (Ca-ion/pH 7.40) concentrations at 6 and 12 months and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD) at 12 months in order to evaluate the risk of hypercalcemia during vitamin D3 su...

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a rare form of monogenic diabetes presenting in the first 6 months of life. NEUROD1 is a transcriptional factor involved in the development of endocrine pancreas. A few patients with maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to heterozygous NEUROD1 mutations and only two cases with permanent NDM (PNDM) associated to neurological disorders and cerebellar hypoplasia due to homozygous mutations in the NEUROD1 gene have been reported.<...