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Martin Bidlingmaier Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany

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Helena Gleeson Department of Endocrinology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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Ana-Claudia Latronico Department of Internal Medicine, Discipline of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sao Paulo Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

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Martin O Savage Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK

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Precision medicine employs digital tools and knowledge of a patient’s genetic makeup, environment and lifestyle to improve diagnostic accuracy and to develop individualised treatment and prevention strategies. Precision medicine has improved management in a number of disease areas, most notably in oncology, and it has the potential to positively impact others, including endocrine disorders. The accuracy of diagnosis in young patients with growth disorders can be improved by using biomarkers. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is the most widely accepted biomarker of growth hormone secretion, but its predictive value for recombinant human growth hormone treatment response is modest and various factors can affect the accuracy of IGF-I measurements. These factors need to be taken into account when considering IGF-I as a component of precision medicine in the management of growth hormone deficiency. The use of genetic analyses can assist with diagnosis by confirming the aetiology, facilitate treatment decisions, guide counselling and allow prompt intervention in children with pubertal disorders, such as central precocious puberty and testotoxicosis. Precision medicine has also proven useful during the transition of young people with endocrine disorders from paediatric to adult services when patients are at heightened risk of dropping out from medical care. An understanding of the likelihood of ongoing GH deficiency, using tools such as MRI, detailed patient history and IGF-I levels, can assist in determining the need for continued recombinant human growth hormone treatment during the process of transitional care.

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Alexandra Kiess Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Strümpellstraße, Leipzig, Germany
Department of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum, Jena, Germany

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Jessica Green Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Eaton Road Liverpool, Great Britain

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Anja Willenberg Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse, Leipzig, Germany

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Uta Ceglarek Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse, Leipzig, Germany

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Ingo Dähnert Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Strümpellstraße, Leipzig, Germany

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Wieland Kiess LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse, Leipzig, Germany
Department of Women and Child Health, Hospital for Children and Adolescents and Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse, Leipzig, Germany

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Mandy Vogel LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse, Leipzig, Germany
Department of Women and Child Health, Hospital for Children and Adolescents and Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse, Leipzig, Germany

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Background and objectives

As part of the LIFE Child study, we previously described the associations between N-terminal-pro-hormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and hs-troponin T (hs-TnT) levels and an individual’s sex, age and pubertal status, as well as with body mass index (BMI) and serum lipid levels. For NT-proBNP, we found inverse associations with advancing puberty, increasing BMI and serum lipid levels. These findings led us to further question the putative influences of the developing individual’s metabolic and growth status as represented by levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1-binding protein-3 (IGF-BP3) as well as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and Cystatin C (CysC).

Material and methods

Serum values, medical history and anthropometric data provided by 2522 children aged 0.25–18 years were collected and analyzed as per study protocol.

Results

A strong negative association between NT-proBNP values and IGF-1, IGF-BP3 and HbA1c levels was identified. For IGF-BP3, this interaction was modulated by sex and age, for HbA1c only by age. For hs-TnT, a positive association was found with IGF-BP3, IGF-1 and CysC. The association between hs-TnT and IGF-1 was sex dependent. The association between CysC and hs-TnT was stronger in girls, but the interaction with age was only seen in boys. Between hs-TnT and HbA1c, the association was significantly negative and modulated by age.

Conclusion

Based on our large pediatric cohort, we could identify age- and sex-dependent interactions between the metabolic status represented by IGF-1, IGF-BP3, CysC and HbA1c levels and the cardiac markers NT-proBNP and hs-TnT.

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Luca Persani Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

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Martine Cools Departments of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics and of Paediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

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Stamatina Ioakim Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

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S Faisal Ahmed Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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Silvia Andonova National Genetic Laboratory, UHOG “Maichin dom", Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria

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Magdalena Avbelj-Stefanija Department for Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Federico Baronio Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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Jerome Bouligand Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm UMRS1185 & Service de Génétique Moléculaire, Pharmacogénétique et Hormonologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, France

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Hennie T Bruggenwirth Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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Justin H Davies Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

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Elfride De Baere Departments of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics and of Paediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

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Iveta Dzivite-Krisane Children’s University Hospital, Riga, Latvia

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Paula Fernandez-Alvarez Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

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Alexander Gheldof Center for Medical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

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Claudia Giavoli Unit of Endocrinology, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

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Claus H Gravholt Departments of Endocrinology, of Clinical Medicine and of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

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Olaf Hiort University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, and University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

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Paul-Martin Holterhus University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany

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Anders Juul Departments of Growth and Reproduction and of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Csilla Krausz Endocrinology and Andrology Units, University Hospital of Careggi and Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy

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Kristina Lagerstedt-Robinson Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

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Ruth McGowan Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
West of Scotland Centre for Genomic Medicine, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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Uta Neumann Charité Medicine University, Berlin, Germany

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Antonio Novelli Translational Cytogenomics Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy

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Xavier Peyrassol Universitè Libre di Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

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Leonidas A Phylactou Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus

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Julia Rohayem University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany

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Philippe Touraine Center for Rare Endocrine and Gynecological Disorders, Department of endocrinology and reproductive Medicine, Hospital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France

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Dineke Westra Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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Valeria Vezzoli Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

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Raffaella Rossetti Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

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Differences of sex development and maturation (SDM) represent a heterogeneous puzzle of rare conditions with a large genetic component whose management and treatment could be improved by an accurate classification of underlying molecular conditions, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) should represent the most appropriate approach. Therefore, we conducted a survey dedicated to the use and potential outcomes of NGS for SDM disorders diagnosis among the 53 health care providers (HCP) of the European Reference Network for rare endocrine conditions. The response rate was 49% with a total of 26 HCPs from 13 countries. All HCPs, except 1, performed NGS investigations for SDM disorders on 6720 patients, 3764 (56%) with differences of sex development (DSD), including 811 unexplained primary ovarian insufficiency, and 2956 (44%) with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). The approaches varied from targeted analysis of custom gene panels (range: 11–490 genes) in 81.5% of cases or whole exome sequencing with the extraction of a virtual panel in the remaining cases. These analyses were performed for diagnostic purposes in 21 HCPs, supported by the National Health Systems in 16 cases. The likelihood of finding a variant ranged between 7 and 60%, mainly depending upon the number of analysed genes or criteria used for reporting, most HCPs also reporting variants of uncertain significance. These data illustrate the status of genetic diagnosis of DSD and CHH across Europe. In most countries, these analyses are performed for diagnostic purposes, yielding highly variable results, thus suggesting the need for harmonization and general improvements of NGS approaches.

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Christine Poitou Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre de référence Maladies Rares (PRADORT, Syndrome de Prader-Willi et autres formes rares d’obésité avec troubles du comportement alimentaire), Service de Nutrition, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

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Anthony Holland Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK

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Charlotte Höybye Department of Endocrinology and Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

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Laura C G de Graaff Center for Adults with Rare Genetic Syndromes, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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Sandrine Bottius Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre de référence Maladies Rares (PRADORT, Syndrome de Prader-Willi et autres formes rares d’obésité avec troubles du comportement alimentaire), Service de Nutrition, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

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Berit Otterlei Landsforeningen for Prader-Willis Syndrom Hiltonåsen, Slependen, Norway

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Maithé Tauber Centre de référence Maladies Rares (PRADORT, Syndrome de Prader-Willi et autres formes rares d’obésité avec troubles du comportement alimentaire), Service d’Endocrinologie, Obésités, Maladies Osseuses, Génétique et Gynécologie Médicale, Hôpital des Enfants, Toulouse, France

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Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), the most common form of syndromic obesity, is a complex neurodevelopmental genetic disorder including obesity with hyperphagia, endocrine and metabolic disorders and also psychiatric disorders. The most frequent endocrine disturbances include hypogonadism and growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Hypothyroidism and central adrenal insufficiency can also be observed but are less frequent. The transition of individuals with PWS from adolescence to adult life is challenging because of multiple comorbidities and complex disabilities. Individuals and caregivers face psychological, medical and social issues. This period of profound changes is thus prone to disruptions, and the main risks being the worsening of the medical situation and loss to follow-up of the individuals. Medical care may be poorly adapted to the needs of individuals because of a lack of knowledge concerning the syndrome and also lack of the necessary specific skills. A multidisciplinary panel composed of several experts in PWS met in November 2021 during an European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN) webinar. They presented complementary aspects of PWS from the perspective of the transition including psychiatric, pediatric and adult endocrinological and parent’s and patient’s points of view and shed light on the best way to approach this pivotal period.

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Yijun Tang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Yao Chen Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Jiayi Wang Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Qianwen Zhang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Yirou Wang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Yufei Xu Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Xin Li Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Jian Wang International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Xiumin Wang Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

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Diagnosis and management strategy of disorders of sex development (DSD) are difficult and various due to heterogeneous phenotype and genotype. Under widespread use of genomic sequencing technologies, multiple genes and mechanisms have been identified and proposed as genetic causes of 46,XY DSD. In this study, 178 46,XY DSD patients were enrolled and underwent gene sequencing (either whole-exome sequencing or targeted panel gene sequencing). Detailed clinical phenotype and genotype information were summarized which showed that the most common clinical manifestations were micropenis (56.74%, 101/178), cryptorchidism (34.27%, 61/178), and hypospadias (17.42%, 31/178). Androgen synthesis/action disorders and idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were the most frequent clinical diagnoses, accounting, respectively, for 40.90 and 21.59%. From all next-generation sequencing results, 103 candidate variants distributed across 32 genes were identified in 88 patients. The overall molecular detection rate was 49.44% (88/178), including 35.96% (64/178) pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants and 13.48% (24/178) variants of uncertain significance. Of all, 19.42% (20/103) variants were first reported in 46,XY DSD patients. Mutation c.680G>A (p.R227Q) on SRD5A2 (steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2) (36.67%, 11/30) was a hotspot mutation in the Chinese population. Novel candidate genes related to DSD (GHR (growth hormone receptor) and PHIP (pleckstrin homology domain-interacting protein)) were identified. Overall, this was a large cohort of 46,XY DSD patients with a common clinical classification and phenotype spectrum of Chinese patients. Targeted gene panel sequencing covered most of the genes contributing to DSD, whereas whole-exome sequencing detected more candidate genes.

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Claire L Wood Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Kieren G Hollingsworth Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Edrina Bokaie Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Eric Hughes Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Robert Muni-Lofra Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Anna Mayhew Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Rod T Mitchell MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK

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Michela Guglieri Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Joseph McElvaney Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Timothy D Cheetham Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Volker Straub Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Glucocorticoids (GCs) reduce inflammation and preserve muscle function in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) but cause pubertal delay. Pubertal induction with testosterone is recommended but longer-term outcome is unknown.

Objective

To assess hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, muscle volume and function 5 years after pubertal induction.

Methods

A prospective observational follow-up of a clinical study was conducted. 15 GC-treated males with DMD were treated with incremental testosterone for 2 years (end of regimen +2 years) then evaluated at +2.5 years and +5 years (final follow-up ~3 years after last injection). Data collected included testicular volume (TV), gonadotrophin, testosterone, inhibin B, muscle function, and limb muscle MRI.

Results

Participants were 18.7 years (s.d. 1.6) at the final follow-up and had been on GC for 11.2 years (s.d. 2.2). Testosterone levels were similar at +2.5 years (8.6 nmol/L (s.d. 3.4) and 5 years (11.0 nmol/L (s.d. 6.1). TV increased from 2.8 mL (s.d. 0.9) at +2 years to 7.1 mL (s.d. 1.8) then 10.6 mL (s.d. 3.5) at +2.5 years and +5.0 years (P < 0.001). Inhibin B levels increased from 55.6 pg/mL (s.d. 47.0) at baseline to 158.2 pg/mL (s.d.87.6), P =0.004 at 5 years but remained lower than reference values (mean 305 pg/mL). Muscle contractile bulk decreased.

Interpretation

Pubertal induction with testosterone in DMD is associated with HPG axis activation and ongoing increases in inhibin B, TV, and testosterone concentrations. Some patients have normal levels which is promising regarding future fertility. Given the beneficial impact of testosterone on bone health, muscle, and well-being, monitoring testosterone levels in this population and supplementation of sub-optimal levels is important.

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