ESPE Abstracts

Background: Patients who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) during childhood have been reported to have a higher risk of early metabolic syndrome (MS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) with a consequent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies reported a cumulative incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance of 11.6% at 5 years from HSCT and of 69.3% at 10 years and a prevalence of MS of 32% at 4 years from HSCT.Objective...

Background: Early predictors of cardiovascular risk using anthropometric and laboratory variables available in the general practice in obese children are poorly identified.Objective and hypotheses: To identify best predictors of early cardiovascular risk in obese children between anthropometric and laboratory parameters.Method: Cardiovascular risk was determined by measuring intima-media thickness of the right common carotid artery...

We present a 13-year old boy, who presented with acute testicular pain. Examination revealed bulky, nodular testicular enlargement. Testicular ultrasound showed multifocal, hyperechoic, calcified masses in both testes, characteristic of large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumours (LCCSCTs), following which he was referred to endocrinology. He had a history of benign skin tags and a previous chest wall tumour, confirmed as a lipoblastoma on histology. Physical examination showed...

Background: Ectopic ACTH-producing tumors rarely occur in children, with <1% of all adolescents with Cushing Syndrome (CS). Many cases of ACTH-secreting ectopic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are reported in literature. In most patients, tumors secrete corticotropin-like peptides and/or corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-like peptide, which stimulate cortisol hyperproduction.Background: Ectopic ACTH-producing tumors r...

Introduction: Craniopharyngioma (CP) is a histologically benign rare tumor from the sellar and parasellar region. Its invasion into adjacent structures, namely optic nerve and hypothalamic-pituitary axis brings significant morbidity and warrants surgical treatment. Hypothalamic Syndrome (HS) can occur in different conditions affecting this structure, comprising a cluster of symptoms like pituitary dysfunction, obesity, temperature dysregulation, sleep disturba...

Background: Noonan syndrome (NS) is a frequent autosomal dominant disorder characterized by facial dysmorphisms, heart defects, short stature and learning disabilities. It is caused by mutations in genes within the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, thus called RASopathies. The RAS/MAPK pathway can also impact the signal transduction of hormones involved in body weight, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism features scarcely studied only in animal models. This study aimed to describe me...

Introduction: The diagnosis of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a challenge due to the complexity of its pathophysiology and the variety of clinical manifestations. Female newborns (NB) with classical forms present virilization of the external genitalia while in boys it is usually normal. Salt-losers boys and girls are highly susceptible to develop acute adrenal insufficiency and death in the first weeks of life; for these reasons, Neonatal Screening (NS) programs have ...

Background: Age at onset of puberty exhibits a remarkable variation mirroring nutritional, environmental, socioeconomic and genetic factors. While large genome-wide association studies identified more than hundred genetic loci associated with age at menarche in girls, knowledge on loci associated with age at pubertal onset in boys is sparse. FSHB/FSHR genetic variants have been shown to affect pubertal timing in girls and reproductive parameters in men.<p class="a...

Background: Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) deficiency is the commonest monogenic form of non-syndromic obesity. MC4R is a seven transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor implicated in central regulation of body weight. The loss-of-function mutations in MC4R gene will contribute to early-onset obesity associated with hyperinsulinemia, hyperphagia and “binge eating”. We aim to determine the prevalence of MC4R variants in a Pediatrics...

Background and Aims: In light of the recent evidence suggesting an increase in idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to assess the proportion of patients referred for precocious puberty (PP) and, within this group, the number of ICPP cases diagnosed before and during the pandemic. Additionally, we compared the demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics of ICPP patients between the two g...