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Prenatal diagnosis and treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Abstract
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) applies to a group of inherited disorders caused by an enzyme deficiency in steroid biosynthesis. The most common form of CAH is 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD), which in its severe form can cause genital ambiguity in females. Affected females experience virilization both physically and psychologically. Steroid 21-OHD can be diagnosed in utero through molecular genetic analysis of fetal DNA. Appropriate prenatal treatment by dexamethasone administration to the at-risk pregnant mother is effective in reducing genital virilization in the fetus, thus avoiding unnecessary genitoplasty in affected females. Current data from large human studies show that prenatal diagnosis and treatment are safe in the short term for both the fetus and the mother. Preliminary data from long-term studies support these results.
AuthorsSaroj Nimkarn, Maria I New
JournalMolecular and cellular endocrinology (Mol Cell Endocrinol) Vol. 300 Issue 1-2 Pg. 192-6 (Mar 05 2009) ISSN: 0303-7207 [Print] Ireland
PMID19101608 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
Chemical References
  • Androgens
  • Steroid 21-Hydroxylase
Topics
  • Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital (diagnosis, enzymology, therapy)
  • Androgens (metabolism)
  • Female
  • Fetus (physiology)
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis (methods)
  • Sex Differentiation
  • Steroid 21-Hydroxylase (genetics, metabolism)
  • Treatment Outcome

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