ESPE Abstracts

The Silver-Russel syndrome (SRS) is characterized by an intrauterine growth retardation accompanied by postnatal growth deficiency. Affected individuals typically have proportionately short statue, finger deformities as well as typical facial features. About 10% of individuals with SRS have maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 7 (UPD7) and 35%–50% showed hypomethylation of the parental imprinting center region 1 (ICR1) of chromosome 11p15.5. In the recent past also ...

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents one of the most common obesity complications and can progress to non-alcoholic stetohepatitis (NASH). NASH is associated with lower insulin like growth factor I (IGF-1) and IGFBP-3, however no data are available regarding the growth hormone (GH)-IGF-I axis in early stage of NAFLD, characterised by hepatic steatosis.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to investigate the GH-IGF-1 pathway in a ...

Background: There is preliminary evidence that adrenal steroids other than cortisol may be valuable biomarkers for major depressive disorder (MDD). So far, studies have been conducted in adults only, and conclusions are limited, mainly due to small sample sizes. Therefore, the present study was intended to assess whether adrenal steroids (progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 21-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, cortisone, deoxycorticosterone, cortico...

Background: There is a distinct increase in the prevalence of depression with the onset of puberty. The role of peripubertal testosterone levels in boys in this context is insufficiently understood. Moreover, the number of CAG repeats of the androgen receptor gene (AR) and the depression status (subclinical vs. overt depression) may modulate the role of testosterone, but this has not yet been studied in a clinical sample.Methods:...

Obesity presents a major worldwide challenge, due to its numerous, severe adverse effects on health. This leads to a necessity to further investigate the mechanisms underlying lipid accumulation. The adipocytokine leptin may contribute to this process. While there already has been thorough research into central leptin action, deepening our understanding of leptin’s effects on whole-body energy homeostasis, relatively little is known about its auto- and paracrine effects....

Rationale: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major complication of preterm birth, which pathophysiology involves systematic inflammation. Preterm infants commonly suffer from relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in their first week of life, resulting in an insufficient production of cortisol inappropriate for the degree of inflammation. One of the major causes of RAI is immaturity of adrenal cortex enzymes, leading to an accumulation of cortisol precursors...

Background: Biallelic loss of function (LoF) mutations in the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) cause a striking phenotype of early-onset severe obesity and hyperphagia. Additionally, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, and/or hypothyroidism are often present. Currently, 19 European patients (all aged <30 years) are described in literature. As clinical trials investigating MC4R-agonist treatment are performed throughout Europe, ide...

Disorders or Differences of sex development (DSD) are a heterogeneous group of congenital conditions, involving variations of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical development. Diagnosis is based on clinical, biochemical, imaging and genetic evaluation. In recent years knowledge about genetic causes has increased, mainly due to improved genetic techniques. In this study we investigated the yield of exome sequencing in our patients with DSD. Patients and methods: Genetic i...

Background: In boys with suspected delayed puberty, serum testosterone is used for the evaluation of gonadal function. It is known that early in puberty testosterone levels show a sleep wake rhythm, with nocturnal levels increasing ahead of daytime levels. To evaluate the onset of puberty, the use of salivary testosterone would be an appealing alternative to serum analysis as it is non-invasive and allows multiple nocturnal sampling. Moreover, it is thought that salivary testo...

Background: Percutaneous epiphysiodesis (PE) around the knee is the treatment of choice in the Netherlands to reduce predicted excessive final height. Studies until now are limited, had small numbers of patients and short follow-up periods.Objective and hypotheses: This nationwide Dutch long-term retrospective follow-up study aimed to assess final height (FH), complications and satisfaction after PE. Primary hypothesis was: ‘The PE around the knee i...