Abstract
Adrenal steroids have been measured before and after acute IV ACTH stimulation (100 u CortrosynR) in 25 prepubertally aged children with excessive virilization (pubic hair ± genital, somatic or skeletal growth excess).
Numbers of patients with basal levels <or> the upper limit of prepubertal values and > postpubertal values are:
Twelve had basal values in but not > the postpubertal range and normal incremental increases after ACTH and are considered to have premature adrenarche.
Among the other 13, 4 had basal levels > postpubertal, 5 excessive incremental response levels and 4 had both. Those in the latter 2 categories could be considered to have mild enzyme deficiencies, 2 with 11-hydroxylase, 3 with 21-hydroxylase, and 2 with 3-HSD. The children with the elevated basal levels without the expected rise after ACTH may represent abnormalities of enzyme regulation rather than enzyme deficiency.
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Lee, P., Urban, M. & Mcvie, R. 127 Abnormal Adrenal Steroids in Premature Virilization of Children. Pediatr Res 19, 624 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00147
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00147