Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency) without demonstrable genetic mutations.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is the most common inherited defect of adrenal steroid biosynthesis. At least 36 mutations in the CYP21 gene, which is mapped to chromosome 6p21.3, have been described. We performed genetic analysis of the CYP21 gene in a patient with classic 21-OHD CAH and her family. The entire exonic coding regions and intronic regions, as well as the -1 kb 5' upstream promoter region, were thoroughly sequenced and analyzed. Despite extensive sequencing, no mutation was found in this 3.7 kb area. The 11beta-hydroxylase defect, closely mimicking the clinical and biochemical phenotype of classic 21-OHD, was excluded by directly sequencing 2.6 kb covering the entire coding of the CYP11B1 gene. Herein we describe a phenotypically and hormonally affected patient with classic simple virilizing 21-OHD CAH who lacks a mutation in the entire CYP21 gene and coding region of the CYP11B1 gene.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency) in Croatia.

We report on the prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase in 20 at-risk pregnancies (16 salt-wasting and 4 simple virilizing families). We have diagnosed 3 affected fetuses (2 males and 1 female), 3 healthy homozygotes (2 males and 1 female), and 14 healthy heterozygotes (7 females and 7 males). These data were collected over 4 years. In 16 fetuses, the diagnosis was made with measurements of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and delta-4-androstenedione (delta) in amniotic fluid (AF), human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing of amniotic cells, as well as karyotypes between the 16th and 18th weeks of gestation. In 4 fetuses, DNA analysis of amniotic cells was also performed. In 3 pregnancies in which affected fetuses were suspected (on the basis of HLA typing and measurements of 17-OHP and delta concentrations in AF), the fetuses were electively aborted between the 17th to 19th weeks of gestation by parental decision. In all aborted fetuses, diagnosis was confirmed with HLA typing, autopsy findings of hyperplastic adrenal glands, and ambiguous genitalia in female fetuses. Postnatal diagnosis was confirmed in healthy fetuses with HLA typing and serum measurements of 17-OHP concentrations, and in 4 of them with DNA analysis. In 3 of the 4 families, DNA analyses revealed the following mutations: in Family 1, the index case mutation was Intron 2, Exon 3/Exon 6, and the fetus was Normal/Exon 6; in Family 2, the index case mutation was Ex1 Int2 Ex3/ Int2, and the fetus was Ex1 Int2 Ex3/Normal; and in Family 3, the index case mutation was Ex8(356)/Ex8(356), and the fetus was Ex8(356)/ Normal. We also report one case of prenatal diagnosis and treatment. Dexamethasone 0.5 mg BID (20 micrograms/kg/d) was given starting at 6th week of gestation. Prenatal diagnosis suggested, but did not prove, that the female fetus was a heterozygote as the fetus lacked the paternal mutation Ex8(318). No mutation was found in the mother. The fetus, the mother, and the affected sib shared a haplotype, further suggesting heterozygosity. The unaffected status was confirmed postnatally.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone insensitivity associated with autonomic nervous system disorders.

Five children with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) insensitivity associated with autonomic nervous system disorders are described. At the time of diagnosis, four of them had osteoporosis. The fifth patient died and skeletal roentgenograms were not done. Osteoporosis was subsequently discovered in one of our previously reported patients with ACTH insensitivity. We assume that osteoporosis is, at least partly, the result of decreased adrenal androgen production. Human leucocyte antigen typing failed to establish any linkage.

An update on the frequency of nonclassic deficiency of adrenal 21-hydroxylase in the Yugoslav population.

Nonclassic steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is an attentuated adrenal enzyme defect that is commonly the basis of hyperandrogenic syndromes. Inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, it is known to occur with high frequency in the general population and with increased frequency in a number of ethnic groups, including the Yugoslav population. Following expansion of the original data on 21 families in Croatia to a total of 49 Croatian and Serbian families, we establish that this enzymatic disorder is increased in this Slavic population and provide an updated estimate for the gene frequency of 0.092 (0.035-0.149). Also in keeping with earlier reports, we continue to note the absence of association between nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency occurring among Yugoslavs and HLA-B14; DR1.

[Detection of heterozygosity in congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency in the general population]. / Otkrivanje heterozigota za kongenitalnu adrenalnu hiperplaziju zbog nedostatka 21-hidroksilaze u opcoj populaciji.

The detection of heterozygotes among the family members of the patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OH) can be done by means of two methods: typing of HLA as the first and measuring of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentrations before and 60 or 360 minutes after ACTH stimulation as the second one. In general population, however, heterozygotes can be revealed only by means of the latter method. Nowadays, the shorter, 60-minute ACTH test predominates, because of being fast and simple test to perform. Thus, with the certain degree of reliability healthy homozygotes can be distinguished from heterozygotes for CAH due to 21-OH deficiency. This study presents the results obtained by measuring concentrations of 17-OHP before and 60 minutes after ACTH stimulation in 69 examinees ranged in four groups: patients with classic type of CAH due to 21-OH deficiency (7 examinees), heterozygotes revealed by means of HLA typing (parents, brothers and sisters of patients--29 examinees), healthy homozygotes proved by means of HLA typing (brothers and sisters of patients--5 examinees) and finally examinees chosen from general population of unknown genotype (28 examinees). The results obtained by measuring concentrations of 17-OHP before and 60 minutes after ACTH stimulation are presented in form of a nomogram and represent the referred data for our population. By using a computer programme and the estimation method it is estimated that 15% of heterozygotes could be by mistake declared as healthy homozygotes (false negative results) and 15% of healthy homozygotes, respectively (false positive results). It should be included in interpretation of the results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency]. / Prenatalna dijagnostika kongenitalne adrenalne hiperplazije zbog nedostatka enzima 21-hidroksilaze.

Prenatal diagnosis of the "classical" forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) which is a result of 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency either complete, with salt-wasting or incomplete without salt wasting, is performed in two ways: by measuring concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstendione (delta 4) in amniotic fluid and by HLA typing of fetal cells from amniotic fluid. Having ones own normal values is the basic condition for the safe prenatal diagnosis of CAH 21-OH deficiency by measuring steroid concentration in amniotic fluid. Normal concentrations of 17-OHP in amniotic fluid achieved by amniocentesis in 85 pregnant women from 16-23 gestation week have been measured, as well as concentrations of delta 4 in 66 pregnant women in the same period of gestation. It has been proved that there are no differences between the concentrations of delta 4 in amniotic fluid regarding the sex. As far as 17-OHP is concerned, the same was confirmed earlier. The results of 9 prenatal diagnosis in 8 families, having already one child with "classical" form of CAH with salt-wasting, have been presented. It was achieved by combination of two methods: by measuring concentration of 17-OHP and delta 4 in amniotic fluid and HLA typing of fetal cells from amniotic fluid. In 8 fetuses at risk the birth of healthy children was correctly predicted, which was confirmed after the birth in three cases by HLA typing and measuring concentration of 17-OHP and delta 4 and from the blood of newborn babies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

'Cryptic' form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in the Yugoslav population.

Five individuals with the asymptomatic, 'non-classical', 'cryptic' form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency from 5 unrelated families were discovered during hormonal studies and HLA-typing performed in a series of 24 families with CAH due to 21-OH deficiency. Four of the 5 individuals with the 'cryptic' form of CAH belong to families where the index case was a patient with the classical form of CAH due to 21-OH deficiency. The fifth one originated from a family where the index case was a girl with the 'non-classical', 'late-onset' form of the disease. All the 5 individuals had no clinical symptoms in spite of clearcut biochemical signs of 21-OH deficiency: increased 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHP), dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione levels, particularly after ACTH-stimulation. The 17-OHP response upon ACTH stimulation of heterozygotes for this 'non-classical' form of 21-OH deficiency did not differ from the response of heterozygous individuals for the classical form of the disease. The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that individuals with the 'cryptic' form of CAH due to 21-OH deficiency are genetic compounds bearing one allele for the severe, classical form, and on the homologous locus, another one for the mild 'non-classical' form of CAH due to 21-OH deficiency. Their genotype was 21-OH severe/21-OH mild.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Coincidence of pseudohypoaldosteronism with gluten-enteropathy.

This is a 21-month-old boy with pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) in coincidence with celiac disease. The diagnosis of PHA was made on the basis of hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and large urinary salt losses, as well as high renin activity and aldosterone levels and increased urinary plasma aldosterone. Whereas mineralocorticoid therapy was ineffective, salt therapy has proven successful. The patient's HLA type was found to be characteristic of gluten-enteropathy (A1, B8, DR3). The combination of PHA and celiac disease has not yet been described and is probably a coincidence. However, it is suggested that other PHA patients be typed in order to investigate the segregation between HLA type, PHA and celiac disease.