ENDO-ERN - European Reference Network on Rare Endocrinological Diseases

Rare endocrinological diseases are characterized by excessive, reduced or inappropriate hormone production, resistance to hormonal activity, neoplasms or genetic diseases of endocrine organs. Their epidemiological distribution is extremely variable, ranging from ultra-rare forms to conditions with low prevalence. Patients with rare endocrinological disease require highly specialized care, delivered by multi-disciplinary teams, coordinated by an endocrinologist.
Endo-ERN, the European network of centers dealing with rare diseases, includes eight sectors (defined as MTG, Main Thematic Group). The Padua hospital covers all eight MTGs envisaged:

• MTG1 – Adrenal;
• MTG2 - Disorders of Calcium & Phosphate Homeostasis;
• MTG3 - Genetic disorders of Glucose & Insulin Homeostasis;
• MTG4 - Genetic Endocrine Tumor Syndromes;
• MTG5 - Growth & Genetic Obesity Syndromes;
• MTG6 – Pituitary;
• MTG7 - Sex Development & Maturation;
• MTG8 – Thyroid.

Endo-ERN brings together the work of severalinstitutions, stakeholders, scientific societies, and European institutions, including the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology.
The objective of endo-ERN is to improve the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways, the quality of care and the measurement of outcomes of patients with rare endocrinological diseases, involving family members and patient associations (ePAG, European Patient Advocacy Groups), facilitating collaboration and international multidisciplinary training.