ESPE Abstracts

Background and Aim: Despite the broad individual variation of pubertal maturation, references traditionally describe growth in relation to just chronological age and not biological age. Hence, growth references for the adolescent period have been of limited usefulness for monitoring individual growth in clinic and for research. Especially for children and adolescents with chronic diseases is there a need to better evaluate if changes in SD-scores just before a...

Background: Transgender adolescents may be treated with gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) consisting of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) and cross-sex hormones. Limited data are available regarding the metabolic effects of GAHT in adolescence.Objective: To evaluate the lipid profiles and HbA1c in transgender adolescents after one year of cross-hormone treatment.Patients...

Great controversy exists in regard to the timing and technical alternatives to perform feminizing genitoplasty in children. Opponents to an early approach argue that the reconstruction can be risky in terms of clitoral/vaginal function therefore surgery should be postponed until the patient herself can sign an informed consent and be aware of potential risks as well as confirms the desire to undergo the procedures. Such negative feelings in regard to early reconstruction are b...

The development of the artificial pancreas or closed loop for type 1 diabetes, which started as a concept in the last century, took off once continuous glucose monitors became available. The first hybrid closed loop entered the market in 2016, where now several systems compete. This creates the ‘luxury problem’ of having to choose between different systems. Anonymized CGM data collection from company databases try to address the question whether performance in opti...

Background: Treatment with GH of children born SGA allows an increase in growth velocity (GV) and improves adult height. Increased insulin resistance has been described in these patients, which reverts after interrupting GH administration. However, long-term metabolic consequences are not clearly established.Objective and hypotheses: Describe insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) and auxological development (GV and height) in SGA children treated with GH fo...

Aim: Increased clinical attention toward less severe cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may affect both incidence and prevalence. In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we estimate incidence, prevalence, and age at diagnosis of CAH according to subtype and sex.Patients and Methods: Individuals registered with a diagnosis of CAH during 1977 to 2018 were identified in the Danish National Patient Regis...

Background: There is increasing evidence from epidemiological studies that some man-made chemicals present in the environment can disrupt endocrine homeostasis in exposed humans. Exposure during foetal life to e.g. phthalates has been linked to adverse effects on testicular and ovarian development, thyroid homeostasis and growth in postnatal life. Exposure to phthalates fluctuates not only from day to day but also over time which poses a major challenge for ex...

Background: Anogenital distance (AGD) is an indicator of androgen action in utero. Reduced AGD has been found in males with hypospadias, cryptorchidism, low semen quality and infertility. Its usefulness as a clinical marker in patients with Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) is currently being investigated. However, detailed age, sex and method related reference ranges do not exist. Whether individual (body-size-adjusted) AGD is stable postnatally also remains to be e...

Background: FSH stimulates ovarian follicle maturation and estradiol synthesis which is responsible for breast development. Age at pubertal onset varies substantially among healthy girls. Although more than half of the variation is heritable, only a small part has been attributed to specific genetic polymorphisms identified so far.Objective and Hypotheses: We assessed the effect on pubertal onset of three genetic polymorphisms affecting FSH action.<p...

Background: Hypospadias affects approximately 1/200 newborn males. Based on the testicular dysgenesis syndrome hypothesis, some may be suspected of having persistent testicular dysfunction later in life. Few clinical data currently support this hypothesis.Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of hypospadias cases (n = 193) and controls (n = 50), aged 16-21 years, recruited at Ghent University Hospital and...