Premium
EFFECT OF CORTISOL TREATMENT ON HORMONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA
Author(s) -
BACON GEORGE E.,
SPENCER MARTHA L.,
KELCH ROBERT P.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1977.tb02002.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , congenital adrenal hyperplasia , testosterone (patch) , hormone , hydroxyprogesterone , hydrocortisone , hyperplasia , steroid
SUMMARY The temporal relationship between administration of cortisol and serum 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone was investigated in five patients aged 9‐19 years with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21‐hydroxylase deficiency. There was marked variability in the 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone response (determined hourly for 24 h) of individual patients to administration of cortisol. Mean concentration was less than 0.030 μmol/l in one patient but 0.519μ mol/l in another. Levels were higher in all patients while off treatment, and were greatest in those with salt‐losing adrenal hyperplasia. Growth hormone secretion was not suppressed by treatment with cortisol. Withdrawal of cortisol for 3 days resulted in a significant decrease in the mean serum FSH/LH ratio and a rise in serum testosterone in all subjects. Episodic release of gonadotrophins persisted in the adolescent patients.