The treatment of mild adrenal hyperplasia and associated infertility with prednisone.
Thirty patients with mild post-pubertal adrenal hyperplasia, characterized by raised urinary 17-oxosteroid levels and variable combinations of irregular menses, hirsuties, infertility, and spontaneous abortion, were treated with 2.5 to 10 mg of prednisone per day and all conceived (55 pregnancies). With this treatment, regular, ovulatory cycles occurred immediately in 25 patients, and after two to six months, in the rest. Treatment reduced raised 17-oxosteroid levels to normal and brought about some improvement in hirsuties and acne. Forty-seven pregnancies ended in the birth of liveborn infants; one of these died of prematurity and another had congenital emphysema. One pregnancy was terminated, two were of unknown outcome and five (9.4%) ended in abortion. Before treatment, 20 out of 22 pregnancies (91%) had ended in abortion.
D015068:17-Ketosteroids / Q000652:urine; D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy
D015068:17-Ketosteroids; D011241:Prednisone