ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids (GC) reduce inflammation and preserve muscle function in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) but cause almost universal pubertal delay. Long term consequences of GC on androgen status in young men who have received testosterone for pubertal induction remain unknown.Objective: To determine the longer-term outcome after a 2-year pubertal induction regimen using...

Background: Prenatal treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) has been used since the mid 80’s to minimize virilisation of girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Long-term data on treatment safety and health outcome are still limited. It has been shown in animal models that prenatal dexamethasone treatment affects DNA methylation signatures as well as metabolism and behavior. We have previously shown that DEX affects working memory in children who were treated with DEX duri...

Background: Chromosomal imbalances are often due to sub microscopic deletions or duplications not evidenced by conventional cytogenetic methods.Objective and hypotheses: CGH array can help in the diagnosis of severe short stature, associated with mental retardation and dysmorphisms.Method: We describe the clinical case of a 13.1-year-old girl, born at 35 weeks, from a triplets pregnancy. She was 127.5 cm (<−5 SDS), 33 kg ...

Background: SHOX deficiency is a frequent cause of short stature. GH therapy has been approved for growth promotion in individuals with SHOX mutations by FDA and EMEA.Case report: Three patients with Leri-Weill syndrome (LWS) started GH therapy at different chronological ages (CA). Patient 1 started GH+LHRHa at the CA of 13.4 years, height 148.4 cm (−1.5 S.D.), Tanner stage 4, bone age (BA) 13 years. Target height (TH) 160.5 cm (&#87...

Background: Pubertal timing is influenced by a complex interaction among genetic, nutritional, environmental and socioeconomic factors. Over the past 30 years a trend in pubertal timing anticipation has been demonstrated. Environmental factors involved in this phenomenon are mainly represented by endocrine disruptors compounds (EDCs), such as pesticides, industrial compounds and persistent organic pollutants, estrogens and phytoestrogens.Objective and hy...

We are in an exciting and interesting time, when pediatricians and reproductive endocrinologists across the globe rise to the challenge of providing fertility services for people with a history of gonadotoxic diseases. Indeed, developments in numerous medical fields have improved long-term survival rates for many diseases that strike children and young adults. However, to survive is no longer enough. The emphasis is shifting, to enable people to live a life as normal as possib...

Background: Molecular defects are rarely detected in Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients.Objective and Hypotheses: We hypothesized that the frequency of causative molecular defects could be higher in cases with early onset of POI. Moreover, the analysis of multiple genes in the same POI group could disclose co-existence of more than one molecular aberration.Method: In 25 subjects, aged 17.1±7 years at POI onset, bid...

Background: Good adherence to recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) is crucial to achieve optimal growth outcomes in children with GH deficiency (GHD). Controlling factors that negatively impact adherence is difficult in clinical practice. In order to obtain a better understanding of caregiver behaviour, an Argentinian patient support programme (PSP) implemented TuiTek®, a personalised programme comprising behavioural change training, call guides...

Background: Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is a heterogeneous condition characterized by inappropriate insulin secretion in the presence of low blood glucose levels. It can have various causes, including genetic, metabolic, syndromic, autoimmune, insulinoma, non-insulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia or non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia. On the other hand, oculofaciocardiodental syndrome is a rare X-linked dominant condition characterized by multiple congenita...

Background and Aims: Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient required for optimal hemopoetic, cardiovascular and neuro-cognitive functions. There are some literature data that Metformin induces vitamin B12 malabsorption, which may increase the risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency and subsequently elevation of homocysteine levels. High concentrations of homocysteine has been associated with higher risk of coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, h...