THE EXCRETION OF TWO Δ5-3β-OH, 16α-HYDROXYSTEROIDS BY PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA

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Abstract
The urinary excretion of two Δ5-3β-OH, 16α-hydnoxysteroids, 16-OH-pregnenolone (16-OH-PG), and 16-OH-dehydroepiandrosterone (16-OH-DHA), has been determined in 18 patients with the C-21 hydroxylase deficiency type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The excretion of 16-OH-PG was generally above the normal range in young infants, fell over the first 4 months and was present in only one of eight control urine samples from patients with CAH over 5 months of age. The excretion of 16-OH-DHA was generally within the normal range in the young infants, fell over the first 4 months, and was not found in urine samples from CAH patients over 5 months of age. ACTH was administered to eight of the CAH patients and caused an increased excretion of both steroids when they were present in control urine samples. Of the five patients receiving ACTH who had neither steroid present in control urine, 16-OH-PG appeared in the two youngest but 16-OH-DHA appeared in none. The ratio of urinary 16-OH-PG/16-OH-DHA was significantly greater in the CAH patients than in the endocninologically normal patients. It was concluded that the pattern of excretion of 16-OH-PG and i6-OH-DHA in patients with CAH is an exaggeration of the normal infant pattern caused by the endogenous ACTH stimulation. The possible role of the fetal zone of the adrenal cortex in the secretion of these steroids was considered but the available evidence indicated that the permanent cartical zone was the site of origin.

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