ESPE Abstracts

Background: Growth-and-differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a regulator of energy homeostasis, and is used as biomarker of several pathological states.Objectives: To assess longitudinally GDF15 concentrations in a cohort of infants born either appropriate- (AGA, n=70) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA, n=33), the latter known to be at increased risk for central adiposity and metabolic alteration...

Background: Studies aimed at elucidating the pathophysiology of obesity consistently describe it as a highly heterogeneous disorder at both clinical and molecular level. Despite rare monogenic forms and several regions of susceptibility have been defined, the genetic causes underlying the disease remain largely unknown.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to identify novel genetic abnormalities in a cohort of Spanish children with severe non-syndromic earl...

Background: In rodents, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an endocrine member of the FGF family, is mainly produced in the liver and promotes glucose oxidation in several tissues; the circulating concentrations of FGF21 rise shortly after birth. In the human, the ontogeny of circulating FGF21 is essentially unknown.Objective and hypotheses: To assess whether there is also a neonatal surge of circulating FGF21 concen...

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used as flame retardants and have shown endocrine disruption properties in experimental studies. Preliminary studies in animal models have suggested a link between exposure to PBDE and alterations of puberty and reproduction.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the association between the exposure to PBDEs and alterations of puberty in girls, referred for idiopathic premature thelarche (IP...

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with higher risk of cardiometabolic disease. Perturbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis activates a set of ER-to-nucleus signaling pathways known as unfolded protein response (UPR). We previously showed that IUGR is associated with the activation of hepatic UPR and abnormal glucose profile in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Herein, we report the impact of IUGR on pancreas UPR in the same ex...

Background: Pain represents one of the most stressful experiences for children undergoing medical therapies (Kortesluoma, 2008), but is under represented in literature for what concerns pediatric endocrinology. Children consider Injections one of the most painful, frighteningand distressing procedures (Fassler, 1985). The treatment for patients with Growth Hormone Deficiency requires daily subcutaneous injection, performed by parents or patients themselves. Th...

SHOX haploinsufficiency (SHOX-D) is a genetic cause of disharmonic short stature. However, the different impact on phenotype can show differences between patients with the same genotype.GH ameliorates final height, with significant differences between patients for the putative role of environmental factors who can influence growth.We describe the case of two sisters with SHOX-D (target height: 146.8 cm (-2.6SDS); mother: 146.5 cm; ...

Introduction: Long-standing primary hypothyroidism is an unusual cause of pituitary hyperplasia (PH) in children, sometimes difficult to distinguish on CT or MRI from primary pituitary tumors. Loss of thyroxine feedback determines overproduction of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and subsequent TSH-releasing cells hyperplasia in the anterior pituitary. Levothyroxine replacement therapy has been shown to usually determine regression of PH.<p class="abst...

Background: McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS) is a sporadic and rare disorder, clinically defined by the classic triad of cafè-au-lait skin lesions, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, and peripheral precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is common in girls, but has been reported in only 15% of affected boys. Clinical trials on therapeutic management of precocious puberty in MAS boys are limited to case reports or small patient cohorts and no data are reported about final he...

Background: Primary Addison’s disease (AD) is a rare endocrine condition, with reduced or absent secretion of adrenal hormones. Steroid replacement therapy normalizes endocrine assess and the quality of life. More than a half of patients display additional autoimmune conditions, which represent a considerable clinical concern.Objective and hypotheses: Antiparietal cells antibodies (APC-Ab) are commonly found in patients with autoimmune Addison’...