ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: It is known that excessive gestational weight gain can cause an adverse intrauterine environment and increase the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases in the offspring. Epigenetics could be one of the mechanisms involved in this regulation.Objective: We aimed to study the DNA methylation profile of umbilical cord tissue that is associated with gestational weight gain (GWG), and its relationship with cardio-met...

Background and Aims: Gestational obesity can cause metabolic programming in the offspring. Epigenetic modifications of DNA have been suggested as potential mechanisms underlying this programming. FRAT-1 is a gene involved in the WNT signaling pathway, which is an important regulator of adipose tissue development. The objective of this work was to study the methylation status of FRAT-1 in placentas of women with either normal weight or gestati...

Background and Aims: Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are essential nutrients for the development of the fetus and are supplied by the mother through the placenta. Omega-6 arachidonic acid (AA) and both omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docoshexaenoic acid (DHA) stand out for their functional roles. Recent studies show that the concentrations of these fatty acids in maternal blood and umbilical cord are associated with adiposity in the of...

Introduction: Congenital hypopituitarism is a heterogeneous disorder with isolated hormone deficiency(IPHD) or combined(CPHD). Main risk factors for CPHD include H-P abnormalities such agenesis corpus callosum(ACC), anterior pituitary hypoplasia(APH), ectopic posterior pituitary(EPP), pituitary stalk interruption(PSI), septo-optic dysplasia(SOD), and holoprosencephaly(HPE).Patients and Methods: Prospective and longitudin...

Introduction: Differential diagnosis of partial arginine vasopressin deficiency (P-AVPD) and primary polydipsia (PP) can be challenging. Arginine-stimulated copeptin concentrations have been used to differentiate between arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVPD) and PP, setting a copeptin value of 3.8pmol/L at 60 min as a cut-off point in adults.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the arginine-stimulated test ...

Background: The persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare 46-XY disorder of sex development, characterized by the persistence of Müllerian derivatives (uterus, Fallopian tubes) in otherwise normally virilised males. The condition is transmitted as a recessive autosomal trait and is caused in most cases by a defect in either the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) or the AMH type-II receptor (AMHR-II) genes.Case report: We present a 9 ye...

Background: Hoffmann syndrome is a specific and rare form of hypothyroid myopathy in adults characterized by presence of muscle stiffness, proximal weakness and pseudohypertrophy. When this occurs in a cretin child it is known as Kocher–Debré–Sémélaigne syndrome. Patients with more severe or longstanding untreated hypothyroidism are more likely to develop clinically significant muscle disease. Serum muscle enzyme levels as CK, myoglobin and lactate deh...

Background: Small for gestational age (SGA) children are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome in adulthood and have below-average bone mineral density (BMD). Growth hormone treatment reduces fat mass and insulin sensitivity, increases lean body mass and improves height and BMD in short SGA children. We aimed to evaluate changes in body composition in SGA patients treated with growth hormone (GH), after its cessation, compared with young adults born appropriate for gestation...

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent cause of endocrine dysfunctions. However, studies in children are scarce.Objective and hypotheses: To determine pituitary function in children after TBI. To analyze risk factors related with endocrine dysfunctions after 12 months follow up.Method: A prospective study of endocrine function in children after head injury was performed. Data was collected for baseline Glasgow coma ...

Background: Recent studies have found a widespread deficiency of vitamin D during pregnancy. Its significance is still not fully understood, although low Vit-D levels have been associated to increased risk for conditions such as preeclampsia, bacterial vaginosis, neonatal sepsis, and early respiratory infections in the child. Supplementation to the pregnant mother is still a matter of debate, therefore it is important to understand better the causes, risk factors, and possible...