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Open access

Patrizia Bruzzi, Silvia Vannelli, Emanuela Scarano, Natascia Di Iorgi, Maria Parpagnoli, Mariacarolina Salerno, Marco Pitea, Maria Elisabeth Street, Andrea Secco, Adolfo Andrea Trettene, Malgorzata Wasniewska, Nicola Corciulo, Gianluca Tornese, Maria Felicia Faienza, Maurizio Delvecchio, Simona Filomena Madeo, and Lorenzo Iughetti

Objective: This Italian survey aims to evaluate real-life long-term efficacy and safety of rhGH therapy in children with short stature homeobox-containing gene deficiency disorders (SHOX-D) and to identify potential predictive factors influencing response to rhGH therapy.

Design and Methods: This is a national retrospective observational study collecting anamnestic, anthropometric, clinical, instrumental and therapeutic data in children and adolescents with a genetic confirmation of SHOX-D treated on rhGH. Data were collected at the beginning of rhGH therapy (T0), yearly during the first 4 years of rhGH therapy (T1, T2, T3, T4) and at near-final height (nFH) (T5), when available.

Results: 117 SHOX-D children started rhGH therapy (initial dose 0.23 ± 0.04 mg/kg/week) at a mean age of 8.67 ± 3.33years (74% prepubertal), 99 completed the 1st year of treatment, and 46 reached nFH. During rhGH therapy, growth velocity (GV) SDS and height (H) SDS improved significantly. Mean H SDS gain from T0 was +1.14±0.58 at T4 and +0.80 ± 0.98 at T5. Both patients carrying mutations involving intragenic SHOX region (group A) and ones with regulatory region defects (group B) experienced a similar beneficial therapeutic effect. The multiple regression analysis identified the age at the start of rhGH treatment (β -0.31, p = 0.030) and the GV during the first year of rhGH treatment (β 0.45, p = 0.008) as main independent predictor factors of height gain. During rhGH therapy, no adverse event of concern was reported.

Conclusions: Our data confirm the efficacy and safety of rhGH therapy in SHOX-D children, regardless the wide variety of genotype.

Open access

Hans Valdemar López Krabbe, Jørgen Holm Petersen, Louise Laub Asserhøj, Trine Holm Johannsen, Peter Christiansen, Rikke Beck Jensen, Line Hartvig Cleemann, Casper P. Hagen, Lærke Priskorn, Niels Jørgensen, Katharina M Main, Anders Juul, and Lise Aksglaede

Adult patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) are characterized by a highly variable phenotype including tall stature, obesity and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism as well as an increased risk of developing insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis. Most adults need testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), whereas the use of TRT during puberty has been debated. In this retrospective, observational study reproductive hormones and whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) derived body composition and bone mineral content were standardized to age-related standard deviation scores (SDS) in 62 patients with KS aged 5.9 to 20.6 years. Serum concentrations of total testosterone and inhibin B were low, whereas LH and FSH were high in patients before TRT. Despite normal body mass index (BMI), body fat% and ratio between android fat% and gynoid fat% were significantly higher in the entire group irrespective of treatment status. In patients evaluated before and during TRT a tendency towards a more beneficial body composition with a significant reduction in ratio between android fat% and gynoid fat% during TRT was found. Bone mineral content (BMC) did not differ from the reference, but BMC corrected for bone area was significantly lower when compared to the reference. This study confirms that patients with KS have an unfavorable body composition and an impaired bone mineral status already during childhood and adolescence. Systematic studies are needed to evaluate whether TRT during puberty will improve these parameters.

Open access

Annalisa Blasetti, Valeria Castorani, Nella Polidori, Ilaria Mascioli, Francesco Chiarelli, and Cosimo Giannini

Objective

Linear growth is impaired in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and poor metabolic control. A good metabolic control is a key therapeutic goal to prevent vascular complications and also to ensure appropriate anthropometric development during childhood. In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize the effects of glycemic variability on linear growth in children with T1D.

Methods

Data from 144 prepubertal children with T1D were evaluated. Anthropometric measurements (weight, weight-SDS, height, height-SDS, BMI, BMI-SDS) were collected and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured at admission and every 4 months over a 2-year period. Glycemic variability indexes (glycemic coefficient of variation (CV), glycemic CV percentage (CV%), and the product between HbA1c-mean and HbA1c-SDS/100 (M*SDS-HbA1c/100)) were calculated. According to height-SDS changes after 2 years of follow-up, the study population was divided into three tertile groups and differences across groups were investigated for variables of interest.

Results

The three groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and follow-up period. After 2 years, all prepubertal children showed a significant positive trend of anthropometric data. Across the three tertile groups, HbA1c-SDS, CV, CV%, and M*SDS-HbA1c significantly decreased from the first to the third tertile of height-SDS. During follow-up, children with lower Δheight-SDS values reported higher values of HbA1c-SDS, CV, CV%, and M*SDS-HbA1c than subjects with higher linear growth.

Conclusions

Glycemic variability correlates with linear growth in children with T1D. Low glycemic variability indexes were reported in higher height-SDS tertiles. Δheight-SDS is inversely correlated with glycemic CV, CV%, and M*SDS-HbA1c.

Open access

Felix Reschke, Torben Biester, Thekla Von dem Berge, Dagmar Jamiolkowski, Laura Hasse, Francesca Dassie, Pietro Maffei, Katharina Klee, Olga Kordonouri, Hagen Ott, and Thomas Danne

As the most visible and vulnerable organ of the human organism, the skin can provide an impression of its state of health. Rare forms of diabetes and endocrinopathies are often diagnosed late or primarily misinterpreted due to their rarity. Skin peculiarities associated with these rare diseases may be indicative of the underlying endocrinopathy or form of diabetes. At the same time, rare skin changes in diabetes or endocrinopathies can also be a major challenge for dermatologists, diabetologists and endocrinologists in optimal patient and therapy management. Active collaboration between these different specialist groups can therefore lead to increased patient safety, better therapeutic success and more targeted diagnostics.

Open access

Sommayya Aftab, Diliara Gubaeva, Jayne A L Houghton, Antonia Dastamani, Ellada Sotiridou, Clare Gilbert, Sarah E Flanagan, Anatoly Tiulpakov, Maria Melikyan, and Pratik Shah

Background

Hyperinsulinism/hyperammonemia (HI/HA) syndrome is the second most common type of congenital hyperinsulinism caused by an activating GLUD1 mutation.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical profile and long-term neurological outcomes in children with HI/HA syndrome.

Method

This study is a retrospective review of patients with GLUD1 mutation, treated at two centers in the UK and Russia, over a 15-year period. Different risk factors for neuro-developmental disorders were analysed by Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact P test.

Results

We identified 25 cases with GLUD1 mutations (12 males). Median age of presentation was 7 months (12 h–18 months). Hypoglycaemic seizures were the presenting feature in 24 (96%) cases. Twenty four cases responded to diazoxide and protein restriction whilst one patient underwent partial pancreatectomy. In total, 13 cases (52%) developed neurodevelopmental manifestations. Epilepsy (n = 9/25, 36%), learning difficulties (n = 8/25, 32%) and speech delay (n = 8/25, 32%) were the most common neurological manifestation. Median age of presentation for epilepsy was 12 months with generalised tonic-clonic seizures being the most common (n = 4/9, 44.4%) followed by absence seizures (n = 3/9, 33.3%). Early age of presentation (P = 0.02), diazoxide dose (P = 0.04) and a mutation in exon 11 or 12 (P = 0.01) were associated with neurological disorder.

Conclusion

HI/HA syndrome is associated with wide spectrum of neurological disorders. These neurological manifestations were more frequent in cases with mutations affecting the GTP-binding site of GLUD1 in our cohort.

Open access

Mette Bøgehave, Dorte Glintborg, Jørgen Brodersen Gram, Else-Marie Bladbjerg, Marianne Skovsager Andersen, and Johannes Jakobsen Sidelmann

Introduction

Hypogonadism is prevalent during opioid treatment, and low testosterone concentrations are associated with cardiovascular disease. The effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on the coagulation system in men with hypogonadism is not clarified. We investigate the effects of TRT on the tissue factor (TF) and contact activation pathways of coagulation in opioid-treated men.

Materials and methods

This was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in 37 men with total testosterone < 12 nmol/L randomized to 24 weeks of testosterone injections (n = 17) or placebo (n = 20). Variables of the coagulation system were analysed at baseline and after 24 weeks. Measurements included the TF pathway (endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and peak thrombin), the contact activation pathway (endogenous kallikrein potential (EKP) and peak kallikrein), coagulation factors (FVII, FX, prothrombin, and FXII), and inhibitors (tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), protein C, protein S, antithrombin, and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1inh)). Between-group differences at 24 weeks were determined with analysis of covariance. Within-group changes in TRT and placebo were analysed with paired t-test.

Results

Between-group differences at 24 weeks were observed for ETP (P = 0.036), FVII (P = 0.044), FX (P = 0.015), prothrombin (P = 0.003), protein C (P = 0.004), and protein S (P = 0.038). Within the TRT group, ETP, peak thrombin, FVII, FX, prothrombin, TFPI, protein C, FXII, and C1inh decreased and protein S increased (all P < 0.05). Within the placebo group, coagulation outcomes were unchanged.

Conclusion

TRT affects the coagulation system in an anticoagulant direction through suppressed TF pathway in men with opioid-induced hypogonadism.

Open access

Régis Coutant, Maithé Tauber, Béatrice Demaret, Robin Henocque, Yves Brault, François Montestruc, Olivier Chassany, Michel Polak, and

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe in a real-life setting the treatment burden and adherence and quality of life (QOL) of children treated with daily injections of growth hormone and their relationship with treatment duration.

Design

This non-interventional, multicenter, cross-sectional French study involved children aged 3–17 years treated with daily growth hormone injections.

Methods

Based on a recent validated dyad questionnaire, the mean overall life interference total score (100 = most interference) was described, with treatment adherence and QOL, using the Quality of Life of Short Stature Youth questionnaire (100 = best). All analyses were performed according to treatment duration prior to inclusion.

Results

Among the 275/277 analyzed children, 166 (60.4%) had only growth hormone deficiency (GHD). In the GHD group, the mean age was 11.7 ± 3.2 years; median treatment duration was 3.3 years (interquartile range 1.8–6.4). The mean overall life interference total score was 27.7 ± 20.7 (95% CI (24.2; 31.2)), with non-significant correlation with treatment duration (P = 0.1925). Treatment adherence was good (95.0% of children reported receiving >80% of planned injections over the last month); it slightly decreased with treatment duration (P = 0.0364). Children’s overall QOL was good (81.5 ± 16.6 and 77.6 ± 18.7 according to children and parents, respectively), but subscores of the coping and treatment impact domains were <50. Similar results were observed in all patients independently of the condition requiring treatment.

Conclusions

This real-life French cohort confirms the treatment burden of daily growth hormone injections, as previously reported in an interventional study.

Open access

Annelies van’t Westeinde, Leif Karlsson, Valeria Messina, Lena Wallensteen, Manuela Brösamle, Giorgio Dal Maso, Alessandro Lazzerini, Jette Kristensen, Diana Kwast, Lea Tschaidse, Matthias K Auer, Hanna F Nowotny, Luca Persani, Nicole Reisch, and Svetlana Lajic

First-trimester prenatal treatment with glucocorticoid (GC) dexamethasone (DEX) in pregnancies at risk for classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is associated with ethical dilemmas. Though effective in reducing virilisation in girls with CAH, it entails exposure to high doses of GC in fetuses that do not benefit from the treatment. The current paper provides an update on the literature on outcomes of prenatal DEX treatment in CAH cases and unaffected subjects. Long-term follow-up research is still needed to determine treatment safety. In addition, advances in early prenatal diagnostics for CAH and sex-typing as well as studies assessing dosing effects of DEX may avoid unnecessary treatment and improve treatment safety.

Open access

Niek F Dirks, Etienne Cavalier, and Annemieke C Heijboer

The measurement of vitamin D metabolites aids in assessing vitamin D status and in diagnosing disorders of calcium homeostasis. Most laboratories measure total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), while others have taken the extra effort to measure 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 separately and additional metabolites such as 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the main markers of vitamin D metabolism, define the intended measurands, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two most widely used assays, automated assays and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Whether using the easy and fast automated assays or the more complex LC-MS/MS, one should know the pitfalls of the used technique in order to interpret the measurements. In conclusion, automated assays are unable to accurately measure 25(OH)D in all patient groups, including persons using D2. In these cases, an LC-MS/MS method, when appropriately developed and standardized, produces a more reliable measurement.

Open access

Estelle Bonnet, Mathias Winter, Delphine Mallet, Ingrid Plotton, Claire Bouvattier, Maryse Cartigny, Laetiti Martinerie, Michel Polak, Anne Bachelot, Frédéric Huet, Sabine Baron, Muriel Houang, Sylvie Soskin, Anne Lienhardt, Jérôme Bertherat, Cyril Amouroux, Aurore Bouty, Lise Duranteau, Rémi Besson, Alaa El Ghoneimi, Dinane Samara-Boustani, François Becmeur, Nicolas Kalfa, Françoise Paris, François Medjkane, Aude Brac de la Perrière, Patricia Bretones, Hervé Lejeune, Marc Nicolino, Pierre Mouriquand, Daniela-Brindusa Gorduza, and Claire-Lise Gay

Objectives

To examine the changes in diagnostic practices and clinical management of patients with 5α-reductase type 2 (SRD5A2) or 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (HSD17B3) deficiency since molecular diagnoses became available.

Methods

Clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic data were retrieved from the medical records of 52 patients with a molecular diagnosis of SRD5A2 (n = 31) or HSD17B3 (n = 21) deficiency. Temporal trends regarding age at assessment and initial sex assignment over 1994–2020 were qualitatively analyzed. Age at molecular diagnosis was compared between two subgroups of patients according to their year of birth.

Results

Fifty-eight percent (n = 30) patients were diagnosed during the perinatal period, 33% (n = 17) during infancy, and 9% (n = 5) during adolescence or adulthood. Over the studied period, the patients’ age at initial assessment and diagnosis frankly decreased. The median (range) age at diagnostic confirmation was 10.5 (0–53.2) years for patients born before 2007 and 0.4 (0–9.3) years for those born in 2007 or later (P = 0.029). Genetic testing identified 27 different variants for the SRD5A2 gene (30% novel, n = 8) and 18 for the HSD17B3 gene (44% novel, n = 8). Before 2002, most patients were initially assigned as females (95%, n = 19), but this proportion dropped for those born later (44%, n = 14; P < 0.001). The influence of initial genital appearance on these decisions seemingly decreased in the most recent years. Therapeutic interventions differed according to the sex of rearing. Ten percent (n = 2) patients requested female-to-male reassignment during adulthood.

Conclusion

This study showed, over the past two decades, a clear trend toward earlier diagnosis and assignment of affected newborns as males.