ESPE Abstracts

Background: The Low dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) is an important investigation for suspected Cushing’s Syndrome (CS). The traditional definition of normal suppression of serum cortisol to ≤50 nmol/l during the LDDST (0.5 mg 6 hrly × 48 h) comes from a time when biochemical autoanalysers did not routinely detect very low values. Previous studies reported 5.1–8.3% of patients with Cushing’s Disease (CD) suppressed to <50 nmol/l at 48 ...

Background: Prenatal androgen exposure can lead to variable virilization of external female genitalia. The lack of a consensus definition of clitoromegaly and the limited data available on normal steroid levels in female neonates makes its diagnosis difficult.Objective and hypotheses: The aims of this study were (i) to define reference sizes for external female genitalia in term and preterm neonates as a function of gestational age and birth weight; and ...

Background: Partial androgen insensitivity syndromes (PAIS) are rare 46,XY DSD (disorder of sex development).Objective and hypotheses: Three families with PAIS (six patients) are reported, focusing on their phenotype and treatment depending on sex of rearing. Biological investigations and surgical management are described.Method: Between 2009 and 2015 a consultation for uro-genital malformations in pediatric patients was set up in ...

Background and Aims: Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) caused by the early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is a rare affection that occurs in 0.2% in girls. Clinical signs are suggestive and LHRH-test could be sometimes difficult to use and not always contributive. Gonadotropin assay in twenty-four hours-urinary collection could be an interesting option. The present work intended to evaluate the diagnostic interest of 24-hour urinary gonad...

Background: Recently, a national database has been developed to register yearly data from all children detected with CAH in the neonatal screening program from 2002 onwards. So far longitudinal data of 105 children have been registered (roughly 65% of Dutch CAH patients) to evaluate medical treatment and long-term effects in CAH. A national CAH work group developed guidelines for diagnostics and follow up in CAH.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of our curre...

Context: Supra-physiological exogenous corticosteroids used during the last months of pregnancy may lead to temporary neonatal adrenal suppression. Little is known about the outcome of neonates from mothers who used corticosteroids during pregnancy.Objective: The evaluation of clinical symptoms and biochemical findings of adrenal suppression in neonates from mothers using corticosteroids during pregnancy.<p class="ab...

Background: Rapid BMI increase in early childhood was found to be a contributing factor for impaired final height in boys with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). This may be explained by early adrenarche triggering an accelerated bone maturation resulting in a compromised growth spurt during puberty, comparable to children with SGA. In healthy Dutch boys, adrenarche starts from the age of 9 years with DHEAS ≥ 1 µmol/L. In Dutch girls, the onset of adrenarche is fr...

Background: Early-onset obesity is associated with genetic obesity disorders. According to the Endocrine Society guideline for paediatric obesity, genetic screening is indicated in selected cases with age of onset (AoO) of obesity <5 years. However, this cut-off value lacks evidence. Identifying genetic obesity is vital as treatment for leptin-melanocortin pathway disorders becomes available. We aimed to determine whether AoO of obesity is predictive for g...

Background: Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumours (TARTs) are benign tumours that frequently occur in male patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. They exhibit both testicular and adrenal characteristics, but their aetiology is unknown. Additionally, TART resembles Leydig cell tumours (LCTs), while no marker exist to discriminate between these testis tumours. GATA transcription factors play an important role in eukaryotic development and are expressed in foetal and adult adren...

Background: Children with obesity show differences in brain structure, executive function and appetitive traits when compared to lean peers. Results of imaging studies, however, have been contradictory.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate whether childhood obesity is associated with differences in brain structure and whether differences associate with executive function and appetitive traits.Method: A cross-sectional case-contr...