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Introduction: Natural oestrogen administration as oral or transdermal 17β-estradiol is recommended for pubertal induction in girls with hypogonadism. However, suitable low-dose formulations are not consistently available globally. This questionnaire study aimed to identify the current availability of oestrogen and progesterone preparations worldwide.

Methods: Endorsed by the ESPE Turner Syndrome Working Group, the questionnaire targeted paediatric endocrinologists. Questions focused on accessibility of oral/transdermal 17β-estradiol and progestogen preparations. Responses were collected through a SurveyMonkey survey disseminated via ESPE channels, direct outreach, and conferences from June 2020 to December 2022.

Results: Participation included 229 healthcare professionals from 45 countries. Oral and transdermal 17β-estradiol in adult dosage was highly accessible (86.5% and 84.3%), with transdermal administration the preferred form (62.8%). Most commonly available estradiol preparations included 50 μg patches (32 countries) and 1 or 2 mg tablets (65.8% and 71.1% countries). However, 0.5 mg 17β-estradiol tablets were available in only 20% of respondents from 8 countries. Patches delivering 14 or 25 μg/day of 17β-estradiol were available in 3 and 20 countries, respectively. Oral progestogen had widespread availability (96.0%) and preference (87.0%), while transdermal usage was limited to 15.2% of respondents.

Conclusion: This study highlights global challenges in accessing suitable hormone preparations for female pubertal induction. In most countries, the lowest dose of the estradiol is 50 μg for patches and 2 mg for tablets. Appropriate low-dose 17β-estradiol tablets are much less available than low-dose patches. Our survey underscores the importance of adapting guidelines to local availability, and the need for improved accessibility to address these global disparities.

Introduction: In most patients with Turner syndrome (TS) pharmacological pubertal induction (PI) is required to allow the development of female secondary sex characteristics and to reach menarche. The aim of the study was to discuss and assess the process of PI, satisfaction with breast development and side effects of therapy from the patient’s and their family’s perspective.

Methods: Patients with TS/their caregivers were contacted via social media and encouraged to take part in a 15-question anonymous survey regarding the use of estrogen-progesterone replacement therapy (E-PRT).

Results: A total of 109 participants responded to the survey, 70.6% reported that PI commenced between the ages of 10 and 16. Oral estradiol (E2) was most frequently offered to patients (38.5%) and recommended by 33.9% of respondents. Among the youngest generation transdermal E2 patches were the most frequently utilized method. The most important considerations in choosing a preparation was ease of use (41.3%). Totally, 58.7% of women were satisfied with the development of their breasts, and no form of estrogen therapy proved to be better than others in this respect. The older age at start of treatment was associated with a tendency to poorer satisfaction with breast development. 41.3% of all participants did not report any side effects of hormonal therapy.

Conclusion: The age to initiate puberty pharmacologically and the types of estrogen preparations used for this purpose varied across different age groups, however, with a tendency to mimic physiology and recommended protocols. The timing and mode of PI should aim to maximize intended effects, reduce risks of side effects and be simple to use. The aim should be to meet patients’ expectations to ensure that they are not discouraged from taking long-term E-PRT.

Background: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH, somatropin) therapy is approved in children with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS).

Objectives: To report safety and effectiveness data for children with PWS treated with biosimilar rhGH (Omnitrope®, Sandoz) in the PAtients TReated with Omnitrope (PATRO) Children study.

Design: PATRO Children was a multicenter, non-interventional, postmarketing surveillance study.

Methods: Children with PWS received Omnitrope according to standard clinical practice. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored for the duration of Omnitrope treatment. Effectiveness outcomes were also assessed, including height standard deviation (SD) scores (HSDS).

Results: As of July 2020 (study completion), 235 patients with PWS had been enrolled. At baseline, 95.7% (n = 225) of patients were prepubertal and 86.4% (n = 203) were rhGH treatment-naïve. At analysis, the median (range) treatment duration in the study was 56.8 (2.9–155.8) months. AEs were reported in 192 patients (81.7%) and were suspected as treatment-related in 39 patients (16.6%). Serious AEs (SAEs) were reported in 96 patients (40.9%) and were suspected as treatment-related in 22 patients (9.4%). The most frequent treatment-related SAEs were sleep apnea syndrome (n = 11; 4.7%), tonsillar hypertrophy (n = 4; 1.7%), and adenoidal hypertrophy (n = 4; 1.7%). Development of scoliosis was considered treatment-related in two patients; development of impaired glucose tolerance in one patient and type 2 diabetes mellitus in another patient were considered treatment-related. Effectiveness outcomes were primarily assessed in 153 patients who completed 3 years of treatment. Among the 151 prepubertal patients (135 treatment-naïve), mean (SD) change from baseline in HSDS after 3 years was +1.50 (1.07) across all patients and +1.57 (1.07) for treatment-naïve patients.

Conclusion: These data suggest that biosimilar rhGH is well tolerated and effective in patients with PWS managed in real-life clinical practice. Patients with PWS should continue to be closely monitored for well-known safety issues (including respiratory, sleep, and glucose metabolism disorders, and scoliosis) during rhGH treatment.

Background: LHX3 is a gene encoding a LIM-homeodomain transcription factor important for the fetal development of several organs, such as the pituitary gland, spinal motor neurons and the inner ear. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in the LHX3 gene are infrequent and result in a rare syndrome known as combined pituitary hormone deficiency-3, CPHD3.

Methods: We have studied hearing and vestibular functions in a group of eight individuals, aged 8–36 years, all of whom were homozygous for a specific variant in the LHX3 gene at chromosome 9q34. We reexamined the results of consecutive hearing tests from newborn until April 2024.

Results: Our data showed that all the tested patients had progressive sensorineural hearing deficiency ranging from moderately severe to complete loss. We have performed vestibular testing in six patients and, for the first time, demonstrated that a mutation in the LHX3 gene not only affects hearing, but is also associated with vestibular impairment.

onclusion: The human pathogenic variant c.455-2A > G in the LHX3 gene on chromosome 9q34, which present as a founder mutation in the population in northern Sweden, is responsible for phenotypes associated with progressive hearing loss and balance impairment. These findings prove that the LHX3 gene is crucial for the function of both the cochlear and vestibular organs.

Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects on psychosocial and mental health, cognition, body composition, and metabolic markers of hormone treatment in children with gender dysphoria.

Methods: Systematic review essentially follows PRISMA. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and thirteen other databases until 9 November 2021 for English-language studies of hormone therapy in children with gender dysphoria. Of 9934 potential studies identified with abstracts reviewed, 195 were assessed in full text, and 24 were relevant.

Results: In 21 studies, adolescents were given gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) treatment. In three studies, cross-sex hormone treatment (CSHT) was given without previous GnRHa treatment. No randomised controlled trials were identified. The few longitudinal observational studies were hampered by small numbers and high attrition rates. Hence, the long-term effects of hormone therapy on psychosocial health could not be evaluated. Concerning bone health, GnRHa treatment delays bone maturation and bone mineral density gain, which, however, was found to partially recover during CSHT when studied at age 22 years.

Conclusion: Evidence to assess the effects of hormone treatment on the above fields in children with gender dysphoria is insufficient. To improve future research, we present the GENDHOR checklist, a checklist for studies in gender dysphoria.

Objective: To study the impact of GH dose and age at GH start in girls with Turner syndrome (TS), aiming for normal height and age at pubertal onset (PO) and at adult height (AH). However, age at diagnosis will limit treatment possibilities.

Methods: National multicenter investigator-initiated studies (TNR 87-052-01 and TNR 88-072) in girls with TS, age 3–16 years at GH start during year 1987–1998, with AH in 2003–2011. Of the 144 prepubertal girls with TS, 132 girls were followed to AH (intention to treat), while 43 girls reduced dose or stopped treatment prematurely, making n=89 for Per Protocol population. Age at GH start was 3–9 years (young; n=79) or 9–16 years (old; n=53). Treatment given were recombinant human (rh)GH (Genotropin® Kabi Peptide Hormones, Sweden) 33 or 67 µg/kg/day, oral ethinyl-estradiol (2/3) or transdermal 17β-estradiol (1/3), and, after age 11 years, mostly oxandrolone. Gain in heightSDS, AHSDS, and age at PO and at AH were evaluated.

Results: At GH start, heightSDS was −2.8 (versus non-TS girls) for all subgroups and mean age for young was 5.7 years and that of old was 11.6 years. There was a clear dose–response in both young and old TS girls; the mean difference was (95%CI) 0.66 (−0.91 to −0.26) and 0.57 (−1.0 to −0.13), respectively. The prepubertal gainSDS (1.3–2.1) was partly lost during puberty (−0.4 to −2.1). Age/heightSDS at PO ranged from 13 years/−0.42 for GH67young to 15.2 years/−1.47 for GH33old. At AH, GH67old group became tallest (17.2 years; 159.9 cm; −1.27 SDS; total gainSDS, 1.55) compared to GH67young group being least delayed (16.1 years; 157.1 cm; −1.73 SDS; total, 1.08). The shortest was the GH33young group (17.3 years; 153.7 cm: −2.28 SDS; total gainSDS, 0.53), and the most delayed was the GH33old group, (18.5 years; 156.5 cm; −1.82 SDS; total gainSDS, 0.98).

Conclusion: For both young and old TS girls, there was a GH-dose growth response, and for the young, there was less delayed age at PO and at AH. All four groups reached an AH within normal range, despite partly losing the prepubertal gain during puberty. Depending on age at diagnosis, low age at start with higher GH dose resulted in greater prepubertal height gain, permitting estrogen to start earlier at normal age and attaining normal AH at normal age, favoring physiological treatment and possibly also bone health, hearing, uterine growth and fertility, psychosocial wellbeing during adolescence, and the transition to adulthood.

Introduction: PATRO Children is an international, observational, postmarketing surveillance study for a biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; somatropin, Omnitrope (R); Sandoz), approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2006. We report safety and effectiveness data for patients with Turner syndrome (TS).

Methods: The study population included infants, children, and adolescents with TS who received Omnitrope (R) treatment according to standard clinical practice. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored for safety evaluation, and height velocity (HV), height standard deviation score (HSDS), and HVSDS were calculated to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

Results: As of August 2019, 348 TS patients were enrolled from 130 centers. At baseline, 314 patients (90.2%) were prepubertal and 284 patients (81.6%) were rhGH treatment naive. The mean ( range) age at baseline was 9.0 (0.7-18.5) years, and mean (SD) treatment duration in the study was 38.5 (26.8) months. Overall, 170 patients (48.9%) reported AEs, which were considered treatment related in 25 patients (7.2%). One treatment-related serious AE was reported (intracranial hypertension). Mean.HSDS after 3 years of therapy was +1.17 in treatment-naive prepubertal patients and +0.1 in pretreated prepubertal patients. In total, 51 patients (31.1%) reached adult height (AH), 35 of whom were rhGH treatment naive; in these patients, mean (SD) HSDS was -2.97 (1.03) at the start of Omnitrope (R) treatment, and they achieved a mean (SD) AHSDS of -2.02 (0.9).

Conclusion: These data suggest that biosimilar rhGH is well tolerated and effective in TS patients managed in reallife clinical practice. Optimization of rhGH dose may contribute to a higher AH. (C) 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel

Background: In 2007, Omnitrope (R) was the first biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) to be approved in Sweden for treatment in adults and children. Over 10 years' safety and effectiveness data for biosimilar rhGH can now be presented.

Methods: PATRO Children and PATRO Adults are multicenter, longitudinal, observational, post-marketing surveillance studies. Eligible patients include children 0-18 years and adults receiving biosimilar rhGH treatment. Adverse events (AEs) are monitored for safety evaluation. Growth variables in children and metabolic data in adults are recorded for effectiveness evaluation.

Results: As of January 2019, data from 136 children (48% male) were reported from Swedish centers. Mean age in rhGH treatment-naive patients at study entry (n = 114) was 7.5 years, with mean 3.6 years treatment duration. No severe AEs of diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, or malignancy were reported. The most frequently reported AE was nasopharyngitis (n = 16 patients). No clinically relevant anti-hGH or neutralizing antibodies were observed. The mean change from baseline in height standard deviation score (SDS) in naive prepubertal GH deficiency patients was + 0.79 at 1 year, + 1.27 at 2 years, and + 1.55 at 3 years. Data from 293 adults (44% rhGH-naive, 51% male) were included. Fatigue was the most frequently reported AE (n = 26 patients). The incidence of new neoplasms or existing neoplasm progression was 23.8 patients per 1000 patient-years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was reported in four patients. At baseline in rhGH-naive adults, mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) was 29.1 (5.6) kg/m(2) and mean (SD) insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I SDS was - 3.0 (1.4). Mean daily dose increased from 0.1 mg at baseline to 0.3 mg after 4 years. IGF-I SDS normalized during the first year of treatment. Mean BMI and glucose were unchanged over 4 years, while low-/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio decreased.

Conclusions: For the first time, Swedish data from the PATRO Children and Adults studies are presented. The 10-year data suggest that biosimilar rhGH is well tolerated across pediatric and adult indications. Safety and effectiveness were similar to previous reports for other rhGH preparations. These results need to be confirmed in larger cohorts, highlighting the importance of long-term post-marketing studies.

The Growth Hormone Research Society (GRS) convened a Workshop in March 2019 to evaluate the diagnosis and therapy of short stature in children. Forty-six international experts participated at the invitation of GRS including clinicians, basic scientists, and representatives from regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. Following plenary presentations addressing the current diagnosis and therapy of short stature in children, breakout groups discussed questions produced in advance by the planning committee and reconvened to share the group reports. A writing team assembled one document that was subsequently discussed and revised by participants. Participants from regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies were not part of the writing process. Short stature is the most common reason for referral to the pediatric endocrinologist. History, physical examination, and auxology remain the most important methods for understanding the reasons for the short stature. While some long-standing topics of controversy continue to generate debate, including in whom, and how, to perform and interpret growth hormone stimulation tests, new research areas are changing the clinical landscape, such as the genetics of short stature, selection of patients for genetic testing, and interpretation of genetic tests in the clinical setting. What dose of growth hormone to start, how to adjust the dose, and how to identify and manage a suboptimal response are still topics to debate. Additional areas that are expected to transform the growth field include the development of long-acting growth hormone preparations and other new therapeutics and diagnostics that may increase adult height or aid in the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.