scholarly journals Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Jelena Miolski ◽  
Maja Ješić ◽  
Vera Zdravković

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a disease in which a gene mutation, which is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, causes a disorder in the synthesis of enzymes that create glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, or sex steroids from adrenal cholesterol. The incidence of the classic form of the disease ranges from 1:14000 to 1:18000 births. In the majority of cases, the disease is caused by mutations in the CYP21A2 gene that participates in the synthesis of the 21 Alpha-hydroxylase. Due to the lack of enzymes, the synthesis of cortisol is blocked with the accumulation of sex hormones. The classic form of the disease, or a simple virilizing form in which patients lose salt, is diagnosed in the infant period. In the non-classical or mild form of the disease, with late-onset, patients may be asymptomatic or with a milder form of virilization postnatally. The diagnosis is made based on 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels, in order to determine the deficiency of the 21 Alpha-hydroxylase enzyme. Common complications of the disease are adrenal crisis, hypoglycemia, infertility, and premature entry into puberty. Prenatal therapy is referred to as experimental treatment, while the basis of care is hydrocortisone replacement. In severe forms of the disease, patients are unable to produce enough cortisol in response to stress from gastroenteritis, surgery, trauma, or fever, requiring higher doses of hydrocortisone. In certain cases of genital uncertainty, surgical treatment is necessary. A multidisciplinary team of experts is necessary for adequate surveillance of the disease, in both childhood and adulthood.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Valeria Calcaterra ◽  
Francesco Bassanese ◽  
Andrea Martina Clemente ◽  
Rossella Amariti ◽  
Corrado Regalbuto ◽  
...  

Objective. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency in pediatrics. Chronic glucocorticoid replacement is the mainstay of treatment in the classic forms of CAH, and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy is mandatory in the salt-wasting form. Fasting is a mild stressor, which can expose to dehydration, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and acute adrenal crisis in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Case. We report the case of an adolescent affected by the classic form with salt-losing CAH, who observed Ramadan for 30 days, without individualized therapeutic management plan. After Ramadan, a dramatic increase of ACTH level (1081 pg/ml, n.v. 6–57), reduced cortisolemia, tendency to hypotension, and weight loss were recorded. She experienced insomnia, intense thirst, asthenia, and headache. The symptoms disappeared restarting the previous therapy schedule and increasing the total hydrocortisone daily dose with progressive restoring of hormonal control. Conclusion. Our case confirms that patients with CAH are vulnerable, especially during fasting in Ramadan, with a higher risk of acute adrenal crisis. CAH patients should reform and individualize their treatment plan and be submitted to careful monitoring.


Author(s):  
Berta Carvalho ◽  
C.Joana Marques ◽  
Rita Santos-Silva ◽  
Manuel Fontoura ◽  
Davide Carvalho ◽  
...  

AbstractCongenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a group of genetic autosomal recessive disorders that affects adrenal steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex. One of the most common defects associated with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is the deficiency of 21-hydroxylase enzyme, responsible for the conversion of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to 11-deoxycortisol and progesterone to deoxycorticosterone. The impairment of cortisol and aldosterone production is directly related to the clinical form of the disease that ranges from classic or severe to non-classic or mild late onset. The deficiency of 21-hydroxylase enzyme results from pathogenic variants on CYP21A2 gene that, in the majority of the cases, compromise enzymatic activity and are strongly correlated with the clinical severity of the disease. Due to the exceptionally high homology and proximity between the gene and the pseudogene, more than 90% of pathogenic variants result from intergenic recombination. Around 75% are deleterious variants transferred from the pseudogene by gene conversion, during mitosis. About 20% are due to unequal crossing over during meiosis and lead to duplications or deletions on CYP21A2 gene. Molecular genetic analysis of CYP21A2 variants is of major importance for confirmation of clinical diagnosis, predicting prognosis and for an appropriate genetic counselling. In this review we will present an update on the genetic analysis of CYP21A2 gene variants in CAH patients performed in our department.


Author(s):  
Ilja Dubinski ◽  
Susanne Bechtold Dalla-Pozza ◽  
Martin Bidlingmaier ◽  
Nicole Reisch ◽  
Heinrich Schmidt

Abstract Objectives Children with salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) have an impaired function of steroid synthesis pathways. They require therapy with glucocorticoid (GC) and mineralocorticoid hormones to avoid salt-wasting crisis and other complications. Most commonly, children receive hydrocortisone thrice daily with the highest dose in the morning, mimicking the regular physiology. However, reverse circadian treatment (RCT) had been suggested previously. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of RCT in prepubertal children with CAH by comparing the salivary 17-hydroxyprogesterone (s17-OHP) levels individually. Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed the records of children with classical CAH and RCT who were monitored by s17-OHP levels. The study included 23 patients. We identified nine prepubertal children with RCT schemes (three boys and six girls) and compared the s17-OHP levels in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the non-effectiveness of RCT in terms of lowering the morning s17-OHP concentration. In addition, we compared s17-OHP day profiles in six patients on RCT and non-RCT therapy (intraindividually). Results Eight of nine children with RCT showed higher s17-OHP levels in the morning compared to the evening. In addition, none of the children showed a significant deviation of development. Three children were overweight. No adrenal crisis or pubertal development occurred. Comparison of RCT and non-RCT regimens showed no difference in 17-OHP profiles. Conclusions Our data do not support the use of RCT schemes for GC replacement in children with CAH due to lack of benefits and unknown long-term risks.


1994 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 504-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sükrü Hatun ◽  
Nurşen Yordam ◽  
Ali Süha Çalikoǧlu

Hatun Ş, Yordam N, Çalikoǧlu AS. Serum 3α-androstandiol glucuronide measurements in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Eur J Endocrinol 1994;131:504–8. ISSN 0804–4643 To determine the value of 3α-androstanediol glucuronide (3-AG) measurements in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, we compared serum 3AG, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and 24-h urinary 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) excretion in 42 female children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, including 27 with the simple virilizing and 15 with the salt-losing form. Their mean age was 74.5 ±48.5 months (range, 6–194 months). Twenty-four-hour urinary 17-KS excretion and serum 3-AG, A, T, DHT and 17-OHP levels were measured in the patients. The values were less than the mean + 2 sd of the control group in 63%, 74%, 67%, 69%, 60% and 31% of the patients, respectively. Serum 3-AG levels correlated with 24-h urinary 17-KS excretion (r = 0.66) and plasma A (r = 0.80), 17-OHP (r = 0.56), T (r = 0.79) and DHT (r = 0.62) levels. We conclude that serum 3-AG is a useful metabolic index in the management of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Şükrü Hatun, Türk-İş Blk, 274/7, Aydinlikevler, Ankara, Turkey


Author(s):  
Jasmin L Shearer ◽  
Nabeel Salmons ◽  
Damian J Murphy ◽  
Rousseau Gama

We report a 70-year-old female presenting with increased libido and mild but rapid onset virilism. Investigations showed markedly elevated androstenedione and 17 hydroxyprogesterone misdirecting to possible late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. High serum testosterone and oestrogens with suppressed gonadotrophins, however, indicated an androgen-secreting tumour. A normal dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and elevated inhibins A and B indicated the tumour was ovarian in origin, which was confirmed on pelvic examination and imaging. At laparotomy, a right ovarian sertoliform endometrioid carcinoma was removed, following which the patient developed menopausal vasomotor symptoms and improvement of her virilism. Serum testosterone, oestradiol, inhibins A and B became undetectable, gonadotrophins appropriately increased and 17 hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione normalized. We propose that inhibins may be of diagnostic value and should be included in investigative algorithms of females with virilization and hyperandrogenaemia, especially if postmenopausal. Androgen-secreting tumours must be excluded before raised 17 hydroxyprogesterone concentrations are used to diagnose late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia in females with new-onset virilization.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-84
Author(s):  
Elena L. Soboleva ◽  
Natalia S. Osinovskaya ◽  
Natalia N. Tkachenko ◽  
Vladislav S. Baranov ◽  
Marina A. Tarasova

Background. Very little research has been devoted to the studying fertility problem in nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. It is difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding the need for glucocorticoid therapy in NCAH women based on limited data. Therefore, evaluating fertility in patients with NCAH and exploring the possibility of correcting its disturbances seemed to us to be a matter of importance. Aims — to evaluate the reproductive function of patients with NCAH and explore potential treatments for this disorder. Materials and methods. The study group included 60 patients with NCAH aged between 18 and 33 years old. NCAH was diagnosed based on early-morning serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels above 30 nmol/l or 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels after ACTH stimulation above 26 nmol/l and/or characterized by molecular analysis of the CYP21A2 gene. Ultrasonography of the uterus and ovaries were performed in the cycle’s follicular phase. Total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), Androstenedione, 17-OHP and Progesterone was measured. Results. Overall, the patients complained of menstrual cycle disorders (60%), infertility — (28%), hirsutism — (63%). Prior to being diagnosed with NCAH, Thirty-four women sought care because of infertility or recurrent miscarriages. Seventeen women (50%) had miscarriages; later on, five of them developed secondary infertility. Two patients became pregnant without treatment being already diagnosed and progressed to delivery. Once the diagnosis of NCAH was made, 58 women started receiving glucocorticoid therapy, Thirty nine (67%) women became pregnant while on glucocorticoid therapy. Thus glucocorticoid therapy reduced the miscarriage rate from 50 to 10.3%; р<0.001. There was no difference in the miscarriage rate between patients who received or quit glucocorticoid therapy during pregnancy. Conclusions. Glucocorticoid therapy is a highly efficacious method of fertility restoration in NCAH patients. Use of glucocorticoids during pregnancy planning significantly reduced the miscarriage rate. No difference in pregnancy outcome between the patients who received glucocorticoid therapy during pregnancy as opposed to those who did not indicates the advisability of treatment discontinuation once pregnancy is determined.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (09) ◽  
pp. 586-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vassos Neocleous ◽  
Pavlos Fanis ◽  
Meropi Toumba ◽  
Charilaos Stylianou ◽  
Michalis Picolos ◽  
...  

AbstractCongenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is caused by mutations in the CYP21A2 gene. The study refers to CAH patients of Greek-Cypriot ancestry between years 2007 and 2018. One hundred and twenty patients with various degrees of CAH were categorized and genotyped. The patients were categorized in 4 mutation groups based on their clinical and biochemical findings. The majority of patients (85.0%) belonged to the non-classic (NC)-CAH form and the disorder was more often diagnosed in females (71.7%). The most severe classic salt-wasting (SW) form was identified in 11 neonates (9.2%). Seven (5.8%) children were also identified with the simple virilizing (SV) form and a median presentation age of 5 years [interquartile range (IQR) 3.2–6.5]. In the 240 nonrelated alleles, the most frequent mutation was p.Val281Leu (60.0%) followed by c.655 A/C>G (IVS2–13A/C>G) (8.8%), p.Pro453Ser (5.8%), DelEx1–3 (4.6%), p.Val304Met (4.6%), and p.Gln318stop (4.2%). Other less frequent mutations including rare deletions were also identified. Following our recent report that the true carrier frequency of CYP21A2 in Greek-Cypriots is 1:10, this study reports that the CAH prevalence is predicted around 1.7 cases per 10 000 people. Therefore, the up-to-date 120 CAH patients identified by our group make only the 6.9% of the ones estimated (approximately 1750) to exist in the Greek Cypriot population. The compiled data from a coherent population such as the Greek-Cypriot could be valuable for the antenatal diagnosis, management and genetic counselling of the existing and prospect families with CAH.


Author(s):  
Sheri A. Berenbaum

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a family of genetic disorders involving enzyme defects in the synthesis of cortisol in the adrenal gland (for reviews and additional information, see Grumbach, Hughes, and Conte 2003; Merke and Bornstein 2005; Speiser 2001). The most common defect is in 21-hydroxylase (21-OH), which accounts for 90% of cases of CAH and results in physical signs of androgen excess. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is heterogeneous, with the phenotype usually classified as nonclassic (NC), a mild, often late-onset form, or classic, a severe form. Classic CAH consists of the salt-wasting (SW) and simple-virilizing (SV) forms, which reflect degree of aldosterone deficiency (mineralocorticoid disturbance), with a SW:SV ratio of approximately 2:1. It is likely that the three forms of CAH (NC, SV, SW) reflect an underlying continuum. Individuals with classic CAH due to 21-OH deficiency are unable to produce enough cortisol to suppress the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This results in an accumulation of cortisol precursors, leading to increased production of androgen from the adrenal gland beginning early in gestation and continuing until the disorder is diagnosed and treated with cortisol replacement, usually in the newborn period. Classic CAH is usually detected through newborn screening in the United States and in some other countries (Therrell 2001). Untreated classic CAH causes rapid growth (and ultimately short stature), precocious puberty, and physical virilization. Aldosterone deficiency can cause hypoglycemia, and potentially life-threatening episodes of hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. The defects in CAH also have consequences for behavior and cognition, as will be discussed throughout this chapter. Individuals with nonclassic CAH due to 21-OH deficiency do not have the significant cortisol deficiency characteristic of classic CAH. Nevertheless, they do have increased androgen, usually beginning in childhood or in adulthood. The excess androgen is associated with an increased likelihood of early puberty, infertility, and in women, hirsutism, menstrual irregularities, and polycystic ovaries. Classic CAH is one of the most common inborn errors of metabolism and the most common cause of ambiguous genitalia. Data from newborn screening show the incidence to be approximately 1 in 15,000 live births with some variations across countries and ethnic groups (Therrell 2001).


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Kinaan ◽  
Oksana Hamidi ◽  
Hanford Yau ◽  
Kevin D Courtney ◽  
Akin Eraslan ◽  
...  

Abstract Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is recommended for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Inadequate suppression of testosterone while on ADT poses a clinical challenge and requires evaluation of multiple potential causes, including adrenal virilizing disorders. We present 2 cases of elderly patients with prostate cancer who had undiagnosed congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) driving persistent testosterone elevation during ADT. The first patient is a 73-year-old man who underwent radical prostatectomy on initial diagnosis and was later started on ADT with leuprolide following tumor recurrence. He had a testosterone level of 294.4 ng/dL and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 17.7 ng/mL despite leuprolide use. Additional workup revealed adrenal nodular hyperplasia, elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (19 910 ng/dL) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (378 mcg/dL), and 2 mutations of the CYP21A2 gene consistent with simple virilizing CAH. The second patient is an 82-year-old man who received stereotactic radiation therapy at time of diagnosis. He had insufficient suppression of testosterone with evidence of metastatic disease despite treatment with leuprolide and subsequently degarelix. Laboratory workup revealed elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (4910 ng/dL) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (312 mcg/dL). Based on clinical, radiographic and biochemical findings, the patient was diagnosed with nonclassic CAH. The first patient initiated glucocorticoid therapy, and the second patient was treated with the CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone in combination with glucocorticoids. Both patients experienced rapid decline in testosterone and PSA levels. Inadequate testosterone suppression during ADT should trigger evaluation for causes of persistent hyperandrogenemia. CAH can lead to hyperandrogenemia and pose challenges when treating patients with prostate cancer.


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