Members of the endocrinology community gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, for the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE 2024), eager to explore the latest advancements and exchange knowledge and insights. Here are some of the standout abstracts that captured our attention:

Stress hormone during pregnancy linked to IQ in children 

Findings from a recent study suggest that higher cortisol levels during the third trimester of pregnancy may lower IQ scores in 7-year-old boys, but not in girls. Surprisingly, higher urine cortisone levels were associated with improved IQ scores in girls. The study highlights cortisol’s significant role in foetal development, with distinct effects on boys and girls. Cortisol, a stress hormone, is essential for foetal development and may influence cognitive function later in life. The researchers analyzed data from 943 pregnant women and their 7-year-old children, finding that women carrying boys had lower cortisol levels. Boys exposed to higher cortisol in the womb had lower IQ scores, while girls had better IQ scores with higher maternal urine cortisone levels.

Full abstract: Maternal Cortisol Levels in Pregnancy and Intelligence Quotient in Children at 7 Years of Age. Odense Child Cohort

Late-stage study finds menopause drug fezolinetant safely reduces hot flushes for almost 6 months 

A late-stage study found that the menopause drug fezolinetant effectively reduces the frequency and severity of hot flushes for nearly six months without serious side effects. Fezolinetant, a non-hormonal drug approved by the FDA and EMA, targets the temperature-control pathway by blocking the neurokinin-3 (NK-3) brain protein, which helps regulate body temperature. This distinguishes it from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which some women cannot use due to health conditions or side effects.

The DAYLIGHT phase IIIb study, supported by Astellas Pharma, involved 453 menopausal women aged 40-65 who were unsuitable for HRT. Participants received 45mg of fezolinetant or a placebo over 24 weeks. The results showed that those taking fezolinetant experienced significantly fewer and less severe hot flushes, with notable improvements within the first week, especially during the first three days. No safety concerns were reported for the 45mg dose over the study period. These findings reinforce the benefits of fezolinetant for women experiencing moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms during menopause.

Full abstract: Early Response with Fezolinetant Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Vasomotor Symptoms Associated with Menopause in Women Considered Unsuitable for Hormone Therapy: Phase 3b DAYLIGHT Study

Sustained improvement in renal function with palopegteriparatide in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism: 2-year results from the phase III PaTHway trial

Post-hoc analysis of the PaTHway phase III trial demonstrated that treatment with palopegteriparatide showed significant and sustained improvements in renal function in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism. The analysis evaluated the impact of palopegteriparatide  on renal function, measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), through Week 104 in the PaTHway trial. This phase III double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 82 adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism, randomized to receive either palopegteriparatide or placebo, both initially combined with active vitamin D and oral calcium therapy. After a 26-week blinded period, participants entered a 156-week open-label extension. Among 76 participants analyzed, palopegteriparatide  reatment resulted in a mean eGFR increase of 8.9 mL/min/1.73m² (p<0.0001) from baseline at Week 52, which was sustained at Week 104 with a mean change of 9.0 mL/min/1.73m² (p<0.0001). The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with no new safety concerns.

Full abstract: Sustained improvement in renal function with palopegteriparatide in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism: 2-year results from the phase 3 PaTHway trial

Disclosures: This article was created by the touchENDOCRINOLOGY team utilizing AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat.) The content was developed and edited by human editors. No funding was received in the publication of this article.

Take a look at the latest articles from touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology for more endocrinology updates:

The Horizon of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System in the Diagnostic Performance of Thyroid Nodules: Clinical Application and Future Perspectives

Metformin Use and Vitamin B12 Deficiency in People with Type 2 Diabetes. What Are the Risk Factors? A Mini-systematic Review

Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: A Deadly Synergy