The steroid response to controlled adrenal stimulation in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Conway, D.I. , Anderson, D.C. and Bu'lock, D.E. (1982) The steroid response to controlled adrenal stimulation in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Clinical Endocrinology, 16(3), pp. 215-226. (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1982.tb00710.x) (PMID:6280898)

Abstract

Adrenal steroidogenesis has been studied in vivo in eleven patients aged 13–68 years with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, in one patient with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency and in ten female control subjects. Serum levels of the Δ5 3β-hydroxysteroids, pregnenolone (Pe), 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (17Pe), dehydroepian-drosterone (DHEA) and androstenediol (Adiol) and their Δ4 3-keto counterparts, progesterone (Po), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17Po) androstenedione (Adione) and testosterone as well as of 11-deoxycortisol and cortisol were measured during acute adrenal suppression with dexamethasone followed by stimulation with synthetic 1–24 ACTH. In the seven patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency who were on adequate glucocorticoid therapy, grossly exaggerated responses of 17Po and Po to ACTH were nevertheless preserved. In contrast, there was a grossly subnormal response of 17Pe, DHEA and Adiol to ACTH, and low basal levels of DHEA-sulphate. In the untreated patients the response of 17Pe and DHEA was normal. The Adione response was exaggerated in untreated and normal in treated cases. Similar findings obtained in the patient with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency who was studied after 6 weeks without replacement therapy. Our findings demonstrate that production of adrenal steroids that are associated with the adrenarche is not exaggerated in untreated CAH, and is grossly suppressed in treated cases. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that intra-adrenal cortisol may initiate and/or maintain production of the Δ5 steroids by the zona reticularis that occurs in the human adrenarche.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Conway, Professor David
• Authors: Conway, D.I., Anderson, D.C., and Bu'lock, D.E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: Clinical Endocrinology
• Journal Abbr.: 1365-2265
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
• ISSN: 0300-0664
• Published Online: 17 March 2008