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  • Abstract: Gender x
  • Abstract: Hypogonadism x
  • Abstract: infertility x
  • Abstract: Klinefelter x
  • Abstract: menopause x
  • Abstract: transsexual x
  • Abstract: Turner x
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Marie Lindhardt Ljubicic Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Trine Holm Johannsen Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Margit Bistrup Fischer Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Emmie N Upners Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Alexander S Busch Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Katharina M Main Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Anna-Maria Andersson Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Casper P Hagen Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Anders Juul Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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The ratio between luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has previously been described as an excellent marker of sex in healthy infants. However, LH/FSH remains not fully described in patients with differences of sex development (DSD). The aim was therefore to describe LH/FSH in infants with DSD. This was a retrospective study of DSD patients, all aged 0–1.2 years. In total, 87 infants with DSD and at least one serum sample per infant were included. Longitudinal samples from single patients were included whenever possible. Serum LH/FSH ratios in these patients were plotted against recently published age-related and sex-dimorphic cutoffs. Overall, LH/FSH sometimes corresponded to assigned sex without any obvious pattern in terms of diagnoses. LH/FSH corresponded to the biological sex in all patients with Turner or Klinefelter syndrome. In patients with 46,XX or 46,XY DSD (except congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)), the ratios did not correspond to the assigned sex in all cases and were interchangeably within the male and female range. In patients with CAH, the ratio corresponded to biological sex (based on sex chromosomes) in some cases but also ranged across the cutoffs. In the 15 patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism, the LH/FSH ratios corresponded to the assigned sex in all cases (12 were raised as males, 3 as females) and at all time points in cases with multiple sampling. While this study describes LH/FSH in infants with DSD, the exact clinical role of the ratio in the management of these patients remains to be further elucidated.

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Nathalia G B P Ferreira Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Joao L O Madeira Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Peter Gergics Laboratório de Sequenciamento em Larga Escala (SELA), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Renata Kertsz Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Juliana M Marques Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Nicholas S S Trigueiro Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Anna Flavia Figueredo Benedetti University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Human Genetics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

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Bruna V Azevedo Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Bianca H V Fernandes Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
Universidade de São Paulo, Zebrafish Facility, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Debora D Bissegatto Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Isabela P Biscotto Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Qing Fang Laboratório de Sequenciamento em Larga Escala (SELA), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Qianyi Ma Laboratório de Sequenciamento em Larga Escala (SELA), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Asye B Ozel Laboratório de Sequenciamento em Larga Escala (SELA), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Jun Li Laboratório de Sequenciamento em Larga Escala (SELA), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Sally A Camper Laboratório de Sequenciamento em Larga Escala (SELA), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Alexander A L Jorge Unidade de Endocrinologia Genética, Laboratório de Endocrinologia Celular e Molecular LIM25, Disciplina de Endocrinologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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Berenice B Mendonça Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Ivo J P Arnhold Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Luciani R Carvalho Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil

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Context

Congenital hypopituitarism is a genetically heterogeneous condition. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a promising approach for molecular diagnosis of patients with this condition.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to conduct WES in a patient with congenital hypopituitarism born to consanguineous parents, CDH2 screening in a cohort of patients with congenital hypopituitarism, and functional testing of a novel CDH2 variant.

Design

Genomic DNA from a proband and her consanguineous parents was analyzed by WES. Copy number variants were evaluated. The genetic variants were filtered for population frequency (ExAC, 1000 genomes, gnomAD, and ABraOM), in silico prediction of pathogenicity, and gene expression in the pituitary and/or hypothalamus. Genomic DNA from 145 patients was screened for CDH2 by Sanger sequencing.

Results

One female patient with deficiencies in growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone and ectopic posterior pituitary gland contained a rare homozygous c.865G>A (p.Val289Ile) variant in CDH2. To determine whether the p.Val289Ile variant in CDH2 affects cell adhesion properties, we stably transfected L1 fibroblast lines, labeled the cells with lipophilic dyes, and quantified aggregation. Large aggregates formed in cells expressing wildtype CDH2, but aggregation was impaired in cells transfected with variant CDH2 or non-transfected.

Conclusion

A homozygous CDH2 allelic variant was found in one hypopituitarism patient, and the variant impaired cell aggregation function in vitro. No disease-causing variants were found in 145 other patients screened for CDH2 variants. Thus, CDH2 is a candidate gene for hypopituitarism that needs to be tested in different populations.

Significance statement

A female patient with hypopituitarism was born from consanguineous parents and had a homozygous, likely pathogenic, CDH2 variant that impairs cell aggregation in vitro. No other likely pathogenic variants in CDH2 were identified in 145 hypopituitarism patients.

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Lukas Plachy Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Lenka Petruzelkova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Petra Dusatkova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Klara Maratova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Dana Zemkova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Lenka Elblova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Vit Neuman Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Stanislava Kolouskova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Barbora Obermannova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Marta Snajderova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Zdenek Sumnik Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Jan Lebl Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Stepanka Pruhova Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

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Familial short stature (FSS) describes vertically transmitted growth disorders. Traditionally, polygenic inheritance is presumed, but monogenic inheritance seems to occur more frequently than expected. Clinical predictors of monogenic FSS have not been elucidated. The aim of the study was to identify the monogenic etiology and its clinical predictors in FSS children. Of 747 patients treated with growth hormone (GH) in our center, 95 with FSS met the inclusion criteria (pretreatment height ≤−2 SD in child and his/her shorter parent); secondary short stature and Turner/Prader–Willi syndrome were excluded criteria. Genetic etiology was known in 11/95 children before the study, remaining 84 were examined by next-generation sequencing. The results were evaluated by American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Nonparametric tests evaluated differences between monogenic and non-monogenic FSS, an ROC curve estimated quantitative cutoffs for the predictors. Monogenic FSS was confirmed in 36/95 (38%) children. Of these, 29 (81%) carried a causative genetic variant affecting the growth plate, 4 (11%) a variant affecting GH–insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) axis and 3 (8%) a variant in miscellaneous genes. Lower shorter parent’s height (P = 0.015) and less delayed bone age (BA) before GH treatment (P = 0.026) predicted monogenic FSS. In children with BA delayed less than 0.4 years and with shorter parent’s heights ≤−2.4 SD, monogenic FSS was revealed in 13/16 (81%) cases. To conclude, in FSS children treated with GH, a monogenic etiology is frequent, and gene variants affecting the growth plate are the most common. Shorter parent’s height and BA are clinical predictors of monogenic FSS.

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Rebeca Esquivel-Zuniga Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

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Alan D Rogol Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

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Hypogonadism is a clinical syndrome resulting from failure to produce physiological concentrations of sex steroid hormones with accompanying symptoms, such as slowed growth and delayed pubertal maturation. Hypogonadism may arise from gonadal disease (primary hypogonadism), dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis (secondary hypogonadism) or functional hypogonadism. Disrupted puberty (delayed or absent) leading to hypogonadism can have a significant impact on both the physical and psychosocial well-being of adolescents with lasting effects. The diagnosis of hypogonadism in teenagers can be challenging as the most common cause of delayed puberty in both sexes is self-limited, also known as constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP). Although an underlying congenital cause should always be considered in a teenager with hypogonadism, acquired conditions such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, other chronic diseases and medications have all been associated with low sex steroid hormone levels. In this review, we highlight some forms of functional hypogonadism in adolescents and the clinical challenges to differentiate normal variants from pathological states.

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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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