Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: 3-M syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by pre- and postnatal growth restriction, characteristic facial dysmorphism, normal intelligence and radiological features (slender long bones and tall vertebral bodies). It is known to be caused by mutations in the genes encoding Cullin 7 (a component of the ubiquitination system) and Obscurin like-1 (a cytoskeletal protein). The mechanisms through which mutations in these genes impair growth are uncl...

Malaria is commoner amongst pregnant than non-pregnant women in Nigeria and is associated with a significant risk of having a low birth weight (LBW) baby which increases later risk of disease, in particular hypertensive heart disease in this population.We have established a birth cohort in Nigeria and in this study; we aimed to identify possible biomarkers in maternal and/or cord blood related to birth size on the background of malarial status in pregnan...

Carriage of the exon 3 deletion in the GH receptor (GHR) gene has been reported to enhance growth response to GH therapy. JAK2 and PI3K are involved in signal transduction from the GH (JAK2/PI3K) and IGF1 (PI3K) receptors. We have investigated whether a single nucleotide polymorphism within these genes influences growth response to GH therapy. DNA was taken, with ethical approval, from 104 children treated with GH therapy. Diagnoses were: GHD (n=44), TS (n=23), S...

An estimated 5% of all newborns are born SGA (weight less than −2SD at birth), with 10% failing to catch up and becoming eligible for GH treatment. Not all children respond to GH, but the criteria for determining a non-responder have not been clearly defined. We have therefore evaluated first year growth performance of short SGA children treated with GH in The Growth Clinic, Manchester. Clinical and auxological data were collected retrospectively from the case records of...

Background: Re-evaluation of the diagnosis of GHD at the completion of linear growth is a key task.Objectives: To audit the impact of consensus recommendations on diagnosis of GHD and initiation of GH therapy in adolescents previously treated for a brain tumour (BT) or haematological malignancy (HM).Population: Sixty one patients who had received GH therapy until final height following treatment for a BT (n=40) or a HM (n...

Carriage of the exon 3 deletion in the GH receptor (GHR) gene has been reported to enhance growth response to GH therapy in a range of conditions. JAK2 and PI3Kinase are involved in signal transduction from the GH (JAK2/PI3Kinase) and IGF-1 (PI3Kinase) receptors. We have investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms within these genes influence growth response to GH therapy. DNA was taken, with ethical approval, from 97 children treated with GH therapy in a single growt...

Background: A polymorphism of the GHR gene, deletion of exon 3 (d3 GHR), has been associated with improved growth response to GH in some studies. We investigated the effect of this polymorphism across several diagnoses, evaluating parameters of growth outcome from a single institution (Manchester) and combined these with those derived from the literature using meta-analytical approaches.Methods: GHR genotype was assessed by PCR and related to clinical an...

3-M syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by severe pre- and post-natal growth failure, a characteristic facial appearance (triangular shaped face, fleshy tipped nose) and radiological features (slender long bones and tall vertebrae). 3-M syndrome is known to be caused by mutations throughout the Cullin 7 gene, identified in a range of ethnic groups including Brazilian, European, Moroccan, Yakutskian and Indian.We have now identified ...

The TRH test is used in the diagnosis of hypothalamic-pituitary (hp) disorders in children. It is unclear how often the result of this test is helpful. We have examined the results of TRH testing in 143 children investigated primarily for disordered growth. Children with hp axis tumours were excluded.The TSH response to TRH (5microg/kg iv) was defined as abnormal if the peak TSH was <5mU/L (pituitary), or if the peak TSH at 60 mins was higher than at ...

Congenital isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) is a rare inherited disorder that is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Patients are characterised by low or absent cortisol production secondary to low plasma ACTH despite the absence of structural pituitary defects and normal secretory indices of other pituitary hormones. When tested, there is often no ACTH response to exogenous CRH. Onset may occur in the neonatal period, but often is first observed in later childhood. Candid...